UKIP prospective parliamentary candidates from all six of Cornwall’s constituencies are celebrating the party’s second Westminster election victory.

Mark Reckless, who recently joined UKIP from the Conservatives, was returned to parliament in yesterday’s Rochester by­election by a majority of voters. The victory is UKIP’s second in a matter of weeks, after Douglas Carswell won the Clacton by­election to become the party’s first ever MP.

Speaking on behalf of the Cornwall candidates, Doctor Robert Smith, PPC for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle said: “This victory shows that there are many people in Britain who are prepared to vote for the one party that believes in self government from Westminster, and not by the unelected commissioners of Brussels. The fight to maintain our right to govern ourselves, through our own Parliament, will continue in this country. In our local constituencies we are now preparing to take our case to the people of Cornwall.

“We relish the opportunity this coming general election will give us to show that it is not just in the South East, but also in the South West that we can take seats and put UKIP MPs into our House of Commons.”

Celebrating the return of Mr Reckless to parliament under a UKIP banner, Julie Lingard, PPC for North Cornwall said: "This victory is of huge significance and bodes well for UKIP success in the General Election next May. In their hearts the British people believe in democracy and this result demonstrates the underlying depth of support for UKIP, support which I can detect in my own constituency and which will lead us to success across Cornwall and in the country at large”

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