The Tories successfully defended a by-election for a council seat in Gravesham/Meopham North last Thursday. But it was the second place tally that is interesting to me! Because UKIP took second!
John Cubitt (Conservative) – 648 votes
Geoffrey Clark (UKIP) – 462 votes
David Gibson (LibDem) – 148 votes
Andrew Mylett (Labour) – 112 votes
The turnout was just over 38% percent. UKIP used a local environmental issue to breat up on the Tories who wanted to build in the greenways:
Party leader and Kent MEP Nigel Farage said: “Geoffrey has done us proud and coming second only to the Conservatives proves that Ukip is fast becoming a growing force in British politics.
“People are starting to realise that we are not just about the EU, but also offer credible policies on what matters to them locally at a time when the so-called mainstream parties are failing them.
It’s great to see UKIP do well. The party may be on verge of being more than a protest vote. The PM needs to schedule that referendum vote on the EU…
