Ukip's Mark Reckless wins Rochester and Strood by-election

Ukip has gained its second directly-elected MP with victory over the Conservatives in the Rochester and Strood by-election.

UK Independence Party candidate Mark Reckless, who defected from the Tories, has beaten his former party to win the Rochester and Strood by-election by a majority of 2,920.
In his victory speech, Mr Reckless said the large number of Labour voters who switched their support to him showed "the radical tradition, which has stood and spoken for the working class, has found a new home in Ukip".
"As Labour represents those comfortable at the top of the public sector, it is not Ed Miliband but Ukip that represents the concerns of most working men and women," he declared from the stage after a six-hour count.


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