Council poll boosts Ukip

LABOUR has successfully defended a South Yorkshire council seat but the result will give heart to the UK Independence Party.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Sep 2013, 01:01 BST

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.

Ukip’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.