Eurosceptic party own up to error on ballot paper

The UK Independence Party (Ukip) was blaming an “internal error” yesterday for keeping its party’s name off ballot papers in London, potentially losing them the chance of representation on the assembly.

After nomination papers were filled in incorrectly, the party’s contender for mayor, Lawrence Webb, andcandidates for thelondon Assembly were listed as “Fresh Choice for London”, rather than Ukip.

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Party leader Nigel Farage said the bizarre blunder probablymeantlargenumbers of supporters assumed Ukip was not taking part in the ballot and gave their vote to someone else.

The eurosceptic party had been polling at 8% in the capital in the run-up to yesterday’s vote – enough to secure third place in the mayoral race for Mr Webb and possibly two seats in the assembly, where Ukip has been unrepresented since two members defected in 2005.

“We can only put our hands up and say sorry to voters who wanted to back us but couldn’t find our name on the ballot paper,” said Mr Farage.

“We hoped and expected to get twoseats, but this has cost us dear.

“It is a lesson hard learned.”

The mistake may have boosted Boris Johnson’s showing in the first round of the mayoral poll but is unlikely to affect the final outcome, as mostukip voters are thought likely to have given their secondpreference votes to the Conservatives’ candidate anyway.

UPBEAT: Boris Johnson in typically bullish mood with wife Marina Wheeler

Labour’s Ken Livingstone is all smiles after casting his vote in London