Your key numbers this morning:
- Labour held South Shields with their majority reduced by 42%, UKIP came second on 24%.
- By contrast the LibDems came seventh on 1%, lost their deposit, and managed to convince only 352 people to vote for them.
- UKIP won on average around 26% of the vote where they stood.
- They cost the Tories control of two councils in Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire.
Tories point out Labour vote share in South Shields their worst in that seat since 1983…
— Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) May 2, 2013
UKIP can poll more than 20% in both Eastleigh and S Shields, south and north – which is more than Con, Lab or LDs can say
— Jonathan Freedland (@Freedland) May 2, 2013
Food for thought. UKIP can pick up votes in the North.
— Lord Ashcroft (@LordAshcroft) May 2, 2013
Presumably Ukip's success is further proof of the electorate's shift to the left and the rise of a new progressive majority.
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) May 2, 2013
Well @Kevin_Maguire, would you have allowed your majority to half?
— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) May 2, 2013
A massive punch in the face to the political establishment
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) May 3, 2013
My old politics teacher Philip Fawkes, a direct descendant of Guy who shed a tear in class day Maggie was ousted, elected for UKIP in Hants
— James Chapman (@jameschappers) May 3, 2013
A bad night for Dave, Ed and Nick, but one leader is all smiles…
