Tories hold Newark but UKIP slash majority

The Conservatives have won the Newark by-election but with a much reduced majority thanks to UKIP's Roger Helmer.

Tory candidate Robert Jenrick went into the election defending Patrick Mercer's 16,152 vote majority and 44th safest seat and won by a far less impressive 7,403 votes. If this result is indicative of the general election next year, cabinet ministers are going to lose their seats.

Roger Helmer ran an excellent campaign and UKIP was once again the only real opposition to the incumbent parties. Roger came a very strong second with Labour a distant third, an independent in fourth, the Green Party in fifth and the Lib Dems successfully defending the challenge from the Monster Raving Loony Party to finish in sixth.

Party	Votes	%	+/-
Conservative	17,431	45.0	-8.9
UKIP	10,028	25.9	+22.1
Labour	6,842	17.7	4.6
Independent (Paul Baggaley)	1,891	4.9	-
Green	1,057	2.7	-
Lib Dem	1,004	2.6	-17.4
Monster Raving Loony Party	168	0.4	-
Independent (Andy Hayes)	117	0.3	-
Bus Pass Elvis Party	87	0.2	-
Common Good	64	0.2	-
Patriotic Socialist Party	18	0.1	-
Turnout 52.67% (-18.69%)
Swing Con to UKIP 15.46%