It had been dismissed by some as a short-term protest vote, but support for the UK Independence Party and its electoral prospects are becoming a very real concern for political parties and finance professionals, after it gained its second parliamentary seat in Rochester and Strood.
Overnight Mark Reckless, the former Conservative who won the seat from Labour at the general election with a near five-figure majority and triggered a by-election by becoming the second sitting MP to defect to Ukip, was returned to the seat with a majority of a little more than 2,900.
The margin of victory, of just above 7 per cent, was at the lower end of forecasts and came after two weeks during which the party’s lead had risen to 14 per cent. Pollsters had said any lead less than 10 per cent might open the door for the Conservatives to wrestle the seat back at the election in May.
Labour was embroiled in its own row on the eve of the poll, following a tweet from its shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry depicting a house in the Medway constituency draped in English flags and with a white van parked outside.
Ms Thornberry initially dismissed accusations she was being derogatory and ‘elitist’, but after two apologies eventually resigned from the shadow cabinet.
The Liberal Democrats lost their deposit and came in fifth behind the Greens with 349 out of more than 40,000 votes cast, but the party did at least defy some predictions that it would be out-polled by the Monster Raving Loony Party.
Concerns have been raised by some commentators over the political and economic uncertainty created by Ukip’s rise, and especially of the deleterious effects that might result from a party which advocates exiting Europe and limiting immigration having any significant influence on the next government.
Speaking to the Telegraph in the summer, Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: “Politicians of major parties should start telling the truth about immigration, which is that the economy would collapse without migrants - they contribute more than they take out.”
ashley.wassall@ft.com
