Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election: Caroline Johnson retains seat for Conservatives while Ukip finish second
The by-election was triggered after Tory MP Stephen Phillips resigned in November
CONSERVATIVE DR Caroline Johnson has triumphed in the Sleaford & North Hykeham by-election and eased Tory fears of a Ukip takeover in the consituency.
The consultant paediatrician polled more than 17,570 votes to be elected the Lincolnshire constituency's new MP following the resignation of Stephen Phillips in November.
Ukip's Victoria Ayling came second with 4,426 votes and the Lib Dems' Ross Pepper came third with 3,606 votes.
It was a disappointing night for Labour, whose candidate Jim Clarke finished fourth with 3,363 votes.
Voter turnout was 37.1 per cent, with a total of 32,893 votes cast and there was a swing of 0.24% from the Conservatives to Ukip when compared to 2015.
Speaking after the result was announced, Dr Johnson said her presence at Westminster would bolster Theresa May's majority and support the Prime Minister on Brexit.
Ukip leader Paul Nuttall said: "It's a great result for us.
"If someone would have offered me second place at the beginning of the campaign, considering we were in the middle of a leadership election and the party resembled a bit of a shambles over the summer, I would have bitten their hand off.
"I think it's a really good way to get my leadership off the ground.
"This is a small step on a long road."
Ten candidates contested the seat where Tory MP Stephen Phillips resigned in November, citing "irreconcilable policy differences" with the government's approach to Brexit.
Dr Johnson had told voters in the Lincolnshire constituency that the best way to guarantee a Brexit is by electing a Tory MP to bolster Theresa May's majority.
The seat has returned Conservative MPs since it was formed in 1997, and Phillips had a majority of more than 24,000 votes in 2015.
More than 60 per cent of constituents voted Leave in the June 23 referendum.
Sensing an opportunity, Ukip's former leader Nigel Farage and his successor Paul Nuttall went on the campaign trail in the constituency.
They canvassed potential voters and tried to drum up support for their candidate.
"I don't know, it's 2016, why predict anything?" Farage said during the visit.
"Only an idiot predicts things in 2016 because it's been so full of upsets."
The full list of candidates was:
- The Iconic Arty-Pole - Monster Raving Loony Party
- Victoria Ayling - Ukip
- David Bishop - Bus-Pass Elvis Party
- Jim Clarke - Labour
- Paul Coyne - No description
- Dr Caroline Johnson - Conservatives
- Marianne Overton - Lincolnshire Independents
- Ross Pepper - Liberal Democrats
- Sarah Stock - Independent
- Mark Suffield - No description