LONDON
A by-election is underway in Rochester and Strood Thursday, as a result of the defection of Conservative party lawmaker Mark Reckless to the UK Independence Party in September.
The by-election has caused panic in Conservative ranks, as the party has lost a major by-election to the far-right party already.
The Conservatives lost a by-election in October to the anti-immigration party when lawmaker Douglas Carswell defected. Carswell retook Clacton, Essex constituency for UKIP with a 12,404 majority. He had held the seat in the 2010 general election with a 12,068 majority for the Conservatives, who were forced into second place.
The concerns have sent Prime Minister David Cameron on five separate visits the constituency.
The latest polls show that Reckless has a 12-point leader over his former party. If Reckless wins it would make him UKIP’s second lawmaker. This could trigger a rebellion against David Cameron from within the Conservative Party as the general election edges closer and the Euro-sceptic party continues to make gains in the polls.
In the 2010 general election, Reckless won the seat for the conservatives with 23,604 votes, a majority of nearly 10,000. Reckless announced his defection in September at the UKIP party conference.
Results will be announced Friday.
www.aa.com.tr/en
