Tory MP David Heathcoat-Amory was ousted from his seat in Wells, Somerset where UKIP picked up 1,711 votes The tiny UK Independence Party helped deprive the Conservatives of at least ten seats by fielding candidates in constituencies the Tories had a good chance of winning. Nationally, UKIP picked up just 3 per cent of the vote. But in a string of seats their support was enough to stop even Eurosceptic Tory candidates winning. In the most glaring example, the anti-EU party helped oust the fiercely Eurosceptic David Heathcoat-Amory in Wells, Somerset. UKIP picked up 1,711 votes as the Tory MP lost to the Liberal Democrats by 800. UKIP also helped to prop up a number of Labour ministers, including Schools Secretary Ed Balls, Communities Secretary John Denham, immigration minister Phil Woolas and local government minister Ian Austin. In each case the ministers would have lost their seats if the bulk of UKIP's support had gone to the Conservative candidate. Mr Austin, a close ally of Gordon Brown, held Dudley North with a majority of just 649 over the Conservatives, while UKIP picked up 3,267 votes. The UKIP effect was particularly noticeable in the West Country, where there has long been a strong Eurosceptic sentiment. As well as Wells, the Lib Dems won in St Ives, Somerton and Frome and St Austell and Newquay after narrowly holding off Conservative candidates with the help of UKIP. A UKIP spokesman last night claimed the party had deprived the Tories of wins in up to 15 seats, but did not provide a full list. He blamed the Tories for rejecting an electoral deal in which UKIP candidates would have stood aside in return for a referendum on Britain leaving Europe. He added: 'We are not responsible for the behaviour of the Conservative Party who rejected the offer of a deal. The voice of our supporters is important and massive and the only way to teach the Conservatives that is to hurt them.'Did UKIP cost Tories ten seats by fielding candidates in constituencies the Conservatives were set to win?
Sunday, 9 May 2010
By JASON GROVES
Last updated at 11:26 PM on 7th May 2010
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