UKIP is on course to crush the Conservatives in the Rochester and Strood by-election, according to a new poll last night. The Survation poll for the Unite trade union gave Ukip candidate Mark Reckless a 15-point lead over his former party. The lead has widened by six points since an identical poll last month, and suggests that a huge Tory effort to hold the seat is failing to gain traction. Former Conservative MP Mark Reckless is on course to win the Rochester and Strood by-election The poll puts support for Ukip on 48 per cent, with the Conservatives on 33, Labour, who came second in 2010, on 16 per cent, the Greens on two percent and the Lib Dems on just one per cent.
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UKIP on course to defeat the Conservatives in by-election on November 20
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Candidate Mark Reckless has a 15-point lead over his former party
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UKIP's vote has increased by eight points since last month
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Despite Prime Minister David Cameron pledging to 'throw the kitchen sink' at the attempt to hold the seat
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Warnings that Mr Cameron could face a leadership challenge if the Conservatives fail to win the seat
But one MP who stayed away, warned that the @placeholder leadership was underestimating the threat posed by the current situation.