Ukip rise in votes fails to translate into seats

There were growing signs of frustration among members of the UK Independence party on Friday morning, as results showed that despite gaining a near 13 per cent share of the vote in the UK general election, the party would end up with only a few MPs in Westminster.

But with an expected Conservative victory set to result in a referendum on Britain's EU membership, commentators warned that prime minister David Cameron should not underestimate the eurosceptic party's influence.

Rupert Murdoch, whose News International stable of titles controversially pledged support for both the Tories and the SNP, tweeted: "Despite universal condemnation and terrible campaign, Ukip held huge vote. Cameron needs to remember."

Although it came second in at least 80 races and claimed about 2.7m votes, Ukip failed to turn its national support into seats.

Douglas Carswell, who easily prevailed in Clacton, looked set to be the sole Ukip representative in Westminster, though party leader Nigel Farage may have to wait until 11am on Friday before results in his Kent seat of Thanet South are declared, due to the "unprecedented turnout".

"Once again, the first past the post system has taught an insurgent party a harsh lesson," said Matthew Goodwin, associate professor at the University of Nottingham.

"The big question is can this party survive without Nigel Farage as leader if he loses his Thanet seat," he added. "In the short term, this would take the poison out of the eurosceptic sting for David Cameron, but it is unlikely to remain that way."

"In terms of the overall vote share, Ukip's performance is the most significant by an independent new party in postwar English politics. This will inevitably reinvigorate the eurosceptic movement, and the idea that Ukip can't push against Labour is no more."

Ukip's Mark Reckless lost his seat in Rochester and Strood to the Conservatives while the Ukip candidate in Thurrock, where the Tories were defending a majority of just 92, was beaten into third place. The party also came third in Great Grimsby, another target seat.

If the House of Commons was elected on the basis of proportional representation, Ukip's 12.5 per cent share of the national vote so far was estimated to be the equivalent of 81 seats.

But despite a surge of support across the country, particularly in Labour's northern heartlands, the UK's "first past the post" electoral system meant the swing did not translate into seats.

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Richard Elvin, one of Ukip's highest profile activists in northeast England, saw his share of the vote in the Houghton and Sunderland South constituency rise from 2.7 per cent in 2010 to 21.4 per cent, pushing the party from sixth place to second.

Mr Elvin said Ukip's aim of becoming the second force in the northeast was coming true.

"Our credibility is going up in the northeast day by day," he said. "It's a huge mountain to climb but we are beginning to break it down."

He added: "It's down to hard work, getting out and meeting people, explaining who Ukip are and what they stand for."

In a terse exchange with TV cameras on his way to the count, Mr Farage said: "My congratulations to the Daily Mail and the Sun, they're geniuses, they understand politics completely. They think the Ukip vote splits the Tory vote - God help us."

Mr Farage has previously pledged to step down as leader of the party if he failed to be elected.

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