UKIP faces wipeout in Britain’s local elections
UK - The British political party that precipitated the cataclysmic Brexit vote is on course for a wipeout at the first major electoral test since the referendum.
The UK Independence Party, for years led by its charismatic figurehead Nigel Farage, suffered a collapse in support at local elections held around England, Scotland, and Wales. By lunchtime in Britain, UKIP had lost all the seats that it held, and failed to make any gains. In the years leading to the referendum, UKIP wielded an influence far beyond its political representation. It never gained more than one MP in the UK parliament, but the former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron was so worried about the prospect of losing support from voters skeptical of the European Union in the 2015 general election that he promised the in-out referendum. Farage resigned as party leader in the wake of the subsequent 2016 referendum, declaring his work complete. Since then, UKIP has been riven by infighting and factionalism. Early results indicate the governing Conservative Party has made significant gains at UKIP’s expense. The Conservatives have adopted an increasingly hardline approach to Britain’s exit from the European Union, undercutting UKIP on its central message and apparently wooing voters back to the mainstream. UKIP leader Paul Nuttall said it had been “been a difficult night” for his party, adding, “We are the victims of our own success.” The main opposition Labour Party has suffered losses in areas where it has traditionally been strong, such as south Wales, according to early results from the Press Association news agency, while the Liberal Democrats have seen a patchy performance so far, failing to make the headway they hoped for in southwest England. Thursday’s elections for county council seats and mayoral posts are being closely scrutinized for clues to how the major parties will perform in the snap general election in five weeks’ time. Campaigning is now well under way, against the backdrop of increasingly contentious debate over Brexit ahead of formal negotiations. While the local election results are not yet complete, Prime Minister Theresa May is likely to be encouraged by her party’s strong showing so far, which may suggest her gamble in calling the snap general election will pay off.
(CNN.COM)