Video: UKIP beat Tories in Clacton by-election - Douglas Carswell to remain as MP
The Election count in Clacton gets underway. Acting returning officer Ian Davidson. - Credit: Archant
Clacton has re-elected rebel MP Douglas Carswell - making him UKIP’s first MP.
He wins with a majority of 12,404 - a 44% swing in votes. Turnout was 51%.
Mr Carswell receieved 21,113 votes, while second place Tory candidateGiles Watling polled 8,709.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats failed to reach 500 votes.
The by-election was caused by the defection of sitting MP Douglas Carswell from the Tories to UKIP.
In 2010, Mr Carswell was re-elected as Clacton MP for the Conservatives with a majority of 12,068.
Labour polled 25% of the vote in second place, with the Liberal Democrats third. UKIP did not stand as part of an agreement not to oppose the Euro-sceptic Mr Carswell.
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Mr Southall, the only other candidate to stand four years ago, won 535 votes (1.2% share of the overall turnout).
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