Council poll boosts Ukip
LABOUR has successfully defended a South Yorkshire council seat but the result will give heart to the UK Independence Party.
With two-thirds of the votes cast, Labour candidate Robert Frost was the comfortable winner in the contest for the Wombwell seat on Barnsley Council.
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Hide AdUkip’s Neil Robinson secured second place, however, with almost quarter of the votes.
Ukip will hope the result is a sign that recent controversies, in particular surrounding Yorkshire MEP Godfrey Bloom, have not had a significant impact on its fortunes.
The Conservatives were third and the English Democrats fourth.
The by-election was called following the death of coun Denise Wilde in July.
Turnout in the election was just over 20 per cent.