Ukip has won its first by-election: Douglas Carswell is the party’s first elected MP. In a stunning night for the party, it also ran Labour mighty close in Heywood and Middleton—coming in just 617 votes behind.
Nigel Farage’s party has, for the first time, the credibility of having an elected MP. It will have someone at Westminster who can ask David Cameron questions at PMQs, put down amendments to government legislation and speak in Commons debates. This bridgehead in the Commons will help Ukip garner the publicity it needs to keep its bandwagon rolling.
Carswell’s victory in Clacton by the thumping margin of more than 12 thousand votes is a personal triumph for him. Following his defection from the Tories to Ukip, he honourably gave his constituents a chance to pass their verdict on his decision—and they have resoundingly returned him to parliament.
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