Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikeuk
While we should not behave as if this were an election victory, it's very good news for a number of reasons. Obviously this gives UKIP a legitimate Westminster profile, and let's hope Spink is on hand as UKIP rentaquote whenever needed.....it also gives.....UKIP a real focus that can result in fantastic recruitment starting with the splitting and hoovering up of what's left of the local Tories.
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I would expect UKIP to make Castle Point (Canvey Island/South Essex) the party's number one target at the next General Election if it is true that the anti-EU MP for the constituency, Mr. Spink (a former member of the Parliamentary Conservative Party) has joined UKIP.
Their is already a sizeable UKIP vote at Castle Point - the party came quite close to pushing the europhile Liberal 'Democrats' into fourth place at Castle Point at the last General Election
. If UKIP can get thousands of members from all around the country to canvass and leafet in Mr. Spink's constituency and if all UKIP MEPs visit the seat to knock on doors and meet voters the UKIP vote is sure to rise there further.
Efforts by UKIP should now be made to try to persuade other anti-EU parties such as the English Democrats not to put up a candidate at Castle Point at the next General Election (so that the anti-EU vote is not split).
This is the result at Castle Point last time:
Conservative (Mr. Spink) 22, 118 (48.2%)
Labour 13, 917 (30.3%)
Liberal 'Democrats' 4719 (10.30%)
UKIP 3431 (7.49%)
Green 1617 (3.53%)
Conservative Majority 8201 (17.9%)
Voter turnout 66.6%
The constituency will probably be fought on slightly different boundaries at the next General Election.