The British public (or a small percentage of them at least) voted at polling stations up and down the country yesterday for the council elections.
The UK Independence Party surprised many with their major gains, taking an average of 26% of the vote in the council wards in which they stood.
Early signs suggest the party has won a considerable number of seats and it is the biggest surge by a fourth party since the Second World War.
Despite a lack of elections in Manchester, what impact has the latest set of voting had on the mindsets of the city’s residents?
Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, told Radio 4’s Today ‘we want to change British politics’, so MM took to the streets to find out if they were managing it, by asking:
Following their overnight election successes, are UKIP now a credible party on the face of British politics?
| Option | Results |
| No | 54% |
| Yes | 46% |
Darren Curtis, 38, retail manager, Wythenshawe, said:
“I’m hoping they bring about change. The current state of the government is shameful and nothing is being done so the quicker people vote them in the better.”
John Reid, 28, lorry driver, Stockport, said:
“However hard they try UKIP will always be the party that everyone thinks of last. There’s too much talking and not enough action and that has always been the case.”
Eloise Turner, 29, florist, Stockport, said:
“There is little credible evidence to suggest they can really make a difference and with no economic policy of not it is seriously going to be hard for them. People are shifting away from the traditional parties though so anything could happen.”
Callum White, 22, Student, London, said:
“They are the same as any other party really, they should offer something which should be different to the rubbish that is in charge of the moment but there is little sign of it yet.”
Bill Christiansen, 53, finance, Trafford, said:
“It is vital they take advantage now while the other political climate is so unstable. While people move away from the Conservatives and Lib Dems they have get that part of the vote. They still haven’t done enough for me though.”
Carl Harris, 33, Carpenter, Sale, said:
“They all do so little of substance that I’m not really bothered by any of them. Until they realise the whole system is in trouble what’s the point?
Steven Craig, 26, builder, visiting from Kent, said:
“It’s about time someone gave the three main parties a run for their money. Hopefully this will lead to the Tories and Labour bucking up their ideas and doing something which might actually help us.”
Christie Green, 34, Sales Assistant, Stockport, said:
“I’ll vote for who I think is worthy at the time. At the moment there are very few parties who deserve my vote.”
Charlotte Shroot, 25, fashion designer, Leeds, said:
“I was tempted by Labour but of late everything is going so wrong that I don’t know who to vote for any more. If UKIP come up with some decisive ideas to make things better I would have to consider them. It is a case of them not doing enough just yet regardless of what they achieved last night.”
Picture courtesy of European Union 2012 EP/Pietro Naj-Oleari, with thanks.
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