Local Council Elections: UKIP Make Big Gains

The Conservatives have lost control of two English local authorities as the UK Independence Party made stunning electoral gains.

Nigel Farage's party made became the second largest party in Lincolnshire as the Conservatives lost control of the authority.

UKIP also claimed second place behind Labour in the South Shields parliamentary by-election, with the two coalition parties suffering a drubbing.

A UKIP spokesman said the party was "delighted" and on course to win "well over" 100 seats, with counting still to take place in 28 English authorities and the Isle of Anglesey in Wales.

He said the council successes were a "stepping stone" to the party's eventual aim of winning parliamentary elections.

"If this is any sign at all, it will make a few MPs feel a bit less comfortable in their parliamentary seats," the spokesman said.

The party had succeeded in securing "bridgeheads" in counties across England, he said. "It's now looking likely that we will get well past 100 county council seats."

Overnight counts took place at six authorities which were held by the Tories before the election.

The Conservatives retained control in Dorset, Essex, Hampshire and - narrowly - Somerset, where they lost five seats and the Liberal Democrats lost four.

But as well as in Lincolnshire, they were ousted from overall control in Gloucestershire, where there were four gains for Labour and three for UKIP.

Labour's Norma Redfearn ousted incumbent Tory Linda Arkley in the battle to be mayor of North Tyneside.

:: Essex

The Tories were sent a warning in their traditional Essex heartland, losing nine county council seats to a bullish UKIP.

New UKIP councillors said they hoped their success would send a message to Downing Street from the home of Basildon Man - long held as symbol of unwavering Tory support.

Conservatives have dominated Essex County Council since 1958 and, with 59 of the 75 seats going into the election, it was always a case of their grip being loosened rather than lost.

:: Hampshire

UKIP have gained 10 seats at Hampshire County Council, reducing the Conservatives' grip on the local authority. The Tories' number of seats was reduced from 51 to 45 while the Liberal Democrats also saw their numbers fall from 24 to 17.

Labour fared better by increasing the number of councillors from one to four. The Green Party lost its only seat on the council and independents gained the remaining two of the 78 seats.

:: Gloucestershire

The Conservatives have lost control of Gloucestershire County Council but remain the largest party with 23 seats. The Liberal Democrats have 14 seats, Labour nine and Ukip took three seats.

The Tories remain the largest party overall with 23 councillors, down 17 in a county where there have been boundary changes since the seats were last fought in 2009.

Labour gained four seats and Ukip three, with the Liberal Democrats unchanged on 14. Independents and others had four seats.

:: Somerset

The Conservatives have held onto Somerset.

:: Lincolnshire Boston

The Tories were held to "Ransome" as a mother and two daughters celebrated three UKIP gains in Boston, Lincolnshire. Sue Ransome, 61, and her daughters Felicity and Elizabeth Ransome, 27 and 26, gained three seats in tonight's elections in Boston.

The mother of four took the Boston East seat with 675 votes while Felicity took Boston Coastal with 826 votes and Elizabeth took Boston Fishtoft with 837 votes.

Her husband Ron stood for Boston South, along with their daughter Jodie Sutton, 36, in Boston Rural - both came second.

Two more UKIP candidates - Tiggs Keywood-Wainwright and Bob McAuley - also took Boston North West and Boston West respectively from the Tories.

It was a stunning night for the party, which won five of seven Lincolnshire County Council divisions and a Boston Borough Council by-election.

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