Local Elections UK: The Story So Far
Sky News this morning reported that Nigel Farage can now consider himself a major player in British local politics as UKIP persists in exceeding expectations and eating the major three parties' lunch in the polls. Labour leader Ed Miliband needed to win around 200 seats in today's local elections
Sky News this morning reported that Nigel Farage can now consider himself a major player in British local politics as UKIP persists in exceeding expectations and eating the major three parties' lunch in the polls.
Ed Miliband's Labour Party hoped to win well in excess of 200 seats, but it is not looking at promising as they had originally hoped.
Labour failed to secure big targets like Swindon Council, but they did get Hammersmith and Fulham, previously a very right-wing, tax-cutting Conservative-run council.
David Cameron's Conservatives had hoped to restrict his losses to around 200 council seats, but with UKIP also on the march, he may lose more than this. The only solace is that Tory gains from the Liberal Democrats might shore this up a tad.
And speaking of the Liberal Democrats... Nick Clegg's party is likely to suffer some major losses today, raising concerns within the ranks about his ability to take the Lib Dems into a General Election next year.
Yes it could get much, much worse...
And the real winner today so far looks to be UKIP. Farage's party is proving it is not just a protest vote. It has scuppered Tory plans in Basildon, Castle Point, Southend and Thurrock in Essex. It also stole a hefty number of seats in Rotherham, though that council still remains in Labour control.
So Farage is now a major player, and perhaps even a kingmaker, on the local front. No wonder he said this morning that UKIP is no longer a protest party.
