UKIP Marks Significant Gains at UK Local Elections

UKIP leader Nigel Farage exits at a polling station following his vote for the European elections in Orpington, south east London, Britain, 22 May 2014. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Nigel Farage's UK Independence Party (UKIP) has delivered a blow to Westminster parties in Thursday's local elections, according to partial results.

Preliminary data suggests it will be able to drain power over local authorities controlled by both the ruling Conservatives and their partners from the Liberal Democrats.

With results in 144 out of the 161 English councils that were up for election on Thursday, however, UKIP does not seem to have gained control of any.

The party, which could count on at least 150 seats more than it previously did, is the second in gains after Labor (268 seats), according to the BBC.

Tories and Lib Dems have lost 189 and 260 seats respectively.

UKIP's success comes one year ahead of Britain's general elections in 2015, but also short before results of the European elections, held alongside the local vote on Thursday, in which many polls ascribe victory to the party.

UKIP calls for a British exit from the European Union and also to curb immigration from countries like Bulgaria and Romania.

Unlike local vote results, those of the European elections are not to be announced until Sunday.

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