Have Ukip Disappointed?

[Gromit]

I expected UKIP to be a lot more in this election, but they seem to have been marginalised. A month ago I expected them to get 8 or 9 seats, but today I think they will be lucky to retain their 2 seats.

What went wrong?

[Zacs-Master]

A lot more what?

[DTCwordfan]

they are a bunch of loons outside Farage....and not structured enough in their policies, and why do I say loons, let's start with N Hampshire and 'shoot the Conservative' never mind the likes of the Hamiltons et al.

[jim360]

I expect the Tory component of UKIP voters might have felt it better to keep Labour out. The UKIp spoiler effect would otherwise be accounting for keeping the Tories stuck to about 280 seats or so, losing 30 seats to Labour as they got dragged down to second.

Disappointing in a sense. I had half-hoped that enough UKIP voters might keep the faith and send a message to the established parties that they have to change. The exit poll reported on the BBC seems to imply that all parties other than the SNP are going to fall silent. If so, perhaps a chance missed to force real change.

I'm not convinced that the level of support the Tories are now expected to get actually reflects an electorate content with the way things are going, and how the party is running things. More it's just that fear has ended up winning over a few doubters.

But the night is still young!

[Zacs-Master]

I have to agree with your middle para Jim. One can only conclude that the main parties had a pretty firm idea of UKIPs lack of success.

[EDDIE51]

Never expected UKIP to do more than retain the 2 ex-conservative MP's they already had. Perhaps those 2 will rejoin the conservative party now.

[Jomlett]

Sunderland South Result

UKIP 8,280

CON 7,105

LD 791

LAB 21,218

GREEN 1,095

[Jomlett]

Owen Bennett ✔@owenjbennett

Labour source at South Thanet count reckons ukip third, with Tory/labour fighting it out for win. #GE2015

[Svejk]

^Ha ha ha, dream on.

[Captin Kirk]

Haven't disappointed me. I'd be more disappointed if the loons gained any sort of influence in the
Commons.

[Svejk]

Massive swings to UKIP in every seat so far.

[jim360]

Early signs that the UKIP vote might make some significant increase even if it isn't enough to pick up seats -- so some hope yet for a massively deflated vote share for the two main parties.

[Jomlett]

the count in South Thanet, the seat UKIP leader Nigel Farage is hoping to win. The BBC's Jo Coburn says turnout has been very high, but we'll have to wait until 6am tomorrow to find out the result. There are rumours, Jo says, that if Mr Farage is defeated by the Conservative candidate, David Cameron will travel to the constituency to celebrate on Friday.

[david small]

It ain't over till it's over. Have a little faith.

[jno]

peaked too soon, I think.

[saintpeter48]

Oh dear Methyl .... you've been listening to all of the garbage being put out there by the big 3 parties about UKIP ....... You'd rather hang your hat on the lying, fiddling, jail birds, expenses fiddling, paedos in government then would you?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Have the Bradford West voters got rid of Gorgeous George? If s - Respect!

[jno]

looking as though Farage may not make it. Who's the 2ic if he doesn't?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Apologies to Gromit for an irrelevance. Svejk, wasn't the fight awful? £20 down the tubes.