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Matthew Champion
Oct 10, 2014
Ukip has its first-ever elected MP after Douglas Carswell won the by-election he triggered in his Clacton constituency by defecting from the Tories. Here's everything you need to know about the landmark result.
Stunning as well as historic
It was quite simply a resounding victory for Carswell, who won a higher share of the vote (59.7 per cent) standing on a Ukip ticket than he did for the Tories (53) at the last general election - winning with a swing of 44.1 per cent.
As well as becoming Ukip's first elected MP, the Clacton result represented the largest increase in votes by any party in any UK by-election ever.
His win largely came at the expense of Tory votes, although Labour and the Lib Dems both saw their vote down by over ten per cent amid claims the Lib Dems lost their deposit.
In his acceptance speech, the re-elected Carswell, who had become disillusioned with the Tories under David Cameron, said there was "nothing that we cannot achieve".
To my new party I offer these thoughts: humility when we win, modesty when we are proved right. If we speak with passion, let it always be tempered by compassion.
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