Coalition gets trashed in Rotherham

Well, byelections are funny things, but last night's results in Rotherham make for sober reading.

Sarah Champion (Lab) 9,866 (46.25%, +1.62%)
Jane Collins (UKIP) 4,648 (21.79%, +15.87%)
Marlene Guest (BNP) 1,804 (8.46%, -1.96%)
Yvonne Ridley (Respect) 1,778 (8.34%)
Simon Wilson (Cons) 1,157 (5.42%, -11.32%)
David Wildgoose (Eng Dem) 703 (3.30%)
Simon Copley (Ind) 582 (2.73%, -3.58%)
Michael Beckett (Lib Dems) 451 (2.11%, -13.87%)
Ralph Dyson (TUSC) 261 (1.22%)
Paul Dickson (Ind) 51 (0.24%)
Clint Bristow (ND) 29 (0.14%)

The Tories took a drubbing, even for Rotherham. The xenophobic right had a good evening, with the unpleasant UKIP in second and the despicable BNP in third place. But the Liberal Democrats came 8th, behind even the English Democrats, whoever they are. Extinction beckons, I reckon.

mirandashell said:

To be honest, it's more the getting caught that pisses us off. It feels like rubbing our faces in it. Especially when the 'liar' has previously taken the moral high ground like the Lib Dems did before the Election.

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The Lib Dems' combination of leftish sanctimony and letting Thatcherites gut the welfare state is horrible. They back Osborne as he destroys the Health Service and then make a stand against the Tories on...the Leveson Report.

Truly, truly pathetic. Even the English Democrats couldn't be that bad. Whoever they are, as I think I've said before.

crunchyblanket said:

Apparently the turnout was very low indeed. The Manchester by-election apparently had a turnout of around 18%, which is one of the lowest turnouts since 1945.

Sadly, I don't think there's any chance the Big Three will be dislodged from their usual posts. Sad times for us lefty voters.

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Almost every poll and byelection for the last couple of years has suggested the Lib Dems have lost between a third and a half of their support. I think they have. They think they have as well.