Sponsored by
John Bercow: 'UKIP campaign in Luffield Abbey had little effect'
Buckingham MP John Bercow has responded to claims that UKIP is making in-roads into the constituency.
With a general election around the corner things are hotting up in the Speaker's seat where none of the three main parties will be standing.
The UK Independence Party has, however, put forward former leader Nigel Farage as a candidate and at a recent district council by-election the group fought for the Luffield Abbey ward with a national plea from its members to help in the campaign.
The seat was won by Conservative, Pearl Lewis.
Mr Bercow said: "I was interested to see the result of the by-election in the Luffield Abbey ward. In congratulating Pearl Lewis on her victory, I wish her every success as a local councillor.
"It must have been a deeply disappointing result for UKIP which threw huge resources into the campaign to little effect."
That is not a sentiment shared, however, by Mr Farage who sees coming in second place with more than 20 per cent of the vote as a success.
He said: "All in all I am very pleased with the result. As far as the General Election is concerned it was a very interesting test.
"Is UKIP making progress? One is not comparing like with like, but yes we are making significant progress in the constituency."
Pearl Lewis, 22, who has now become one of the youngest district councillors in the country, said: "(Mr Bercow) is really popular round here and they all know he has done a really good job for Buckingham and I think that really counts more than UKIP realises.
"I think they (UKIP) might be overestimating the amount of support they have round here - he (Mr Bercow) does have the biggest numerical majority in the country."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Aylesbury
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
