UKIP makes in-roads in Buckingham constituency
Luffield Abbey by-election was held yesterday
12 February 2010
By Richard Hartley-Parkinson Senior reporter
The Conservatives have held on to the Luffield Abbey seat but Lib Dems have been knocked into third by UKIP.
Pearl Lewis won against three other candidates including Ian Metherell, chairman of the Buckingham Liberal Democrats.
The UK Independence Party was keen to make significant in-roads and had put a plea for help with canvassing on their national website.
Buckingham constituency will be the focus of much attention at the General Election because it is the seat of Speaker John Bercow.
Mr Bercow will not be opposed by the main parties but UKIP have put forward former leader Nigel Farage as a prospective candidate.
He will have been watching the by-election keenly as it will be seen as litmus test.
The UKIP site said: "John Russell is our UKIP candidate for this by-election in Luffield Abbey which is a District Council seat on Aylesbury Vale.
"Our UKIP team has been working extremley hard, 2 colour leaflet have already been delivered with a further 2 planned before the 11th February.
"This by election is extremely important as the seat borders the Buckingham North seat."
The party held an action day two 10 days before the election in Akeley where it paid for a pub lunch for those helping to canvas the 1,000 houses.
The results were as follows:
• Mark Benson (Independent) – 63
• Pearl Lewis (Conservative Party) – 343
• Ian Metherell (Liberal Democrat) – 133
• John Russell (UK Independe nce Party) – 151
• Spoilt 2
Do you think John Bercow should be worried about his Buckingham seat?
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