How did Ukip steal their second seat from the Tories with a candidate as uninspiring as Mark Reckless? Now that he has begun work in the Commons alongside Douglas Carswell, here’s a reflection on the last 24 hours and how the party romped home.
Mature Ukip
Ask any Ukipper why the party won Rochester and the first answer will likely be about how much the party has matured — both in attitudes and the sophistication of its operation. Once, their electioneering efforts were entirely scattergun. Now, the kippers are now focused. Speaking to The Spectator in the early hours of Friday morning, Deputy Ukip leader Paul Nuttall explained how much the party has grown in this year:
‘Ukip has really grown. I mean, you can’t compare where this party is now to where it was even six months ago in terms of the technology when it comes by-elections. Indeed if we would have had this technology when it comes to Heywood and Middleton, we would probably have won that, maybe with a 2,000 majority as well.’
I hung around Ukip’s HQ in Rochester on polling day and saw a wide array of supporters – far broader a coalition that you might expect.
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