LIBDEM VOTE COLLAPSES
Dan Jarvis (Lab) 14,724
Jane Collins (UKIP) 2,953
James Hockney (C) 1,999
Enis Dalton (BNP) 1,463
Tony Devoy (Ind) 1,266
Dominic Carman (LD) 1,012
I think it was a reasonable turnout Alex so perhaps apathy is not the right notion. But two things do leap into view. One is the very good UKIP vote which sees them climb to second place..the other is the dismal showing of the Libdems. They were previously second here and its now clear their image has been hugely tarnished, as they are heavily noted by the electorate now, for promising one thing and delivering something else completely. The tuition fee fiasco was and is their armageddon.
Surely Nick Clegg's future as Libdem Leader must now be in jeopardy. His rapid acceleration from hero to zero is spellbinding in its awfulness. To be beaten by the BNP and another Independent candidate is dire, and on top of that an even worse humiliation..THEY LOST THEIR DEPOSIT!
UKIP though, despite their good result here, are a long way short of becoming the UKs second party. The Conservatives will have something to say about that !!
