The UK Independence Party has sent shock waves through Hampshire politics by making huge gains in the county elections.

The Conservatives maintained their grip on Hampphrie County Council but have been left stunned by a swathe of support for UKIP.

Nigel Farage’s party gained ten new seats on the county council which saw both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats suffer large losses.

The Conservatives lost six seats at the Castle in Winchester while the Lib Dems lost eight.

The biggest rise in the vote for UKIP was in the Eastleigh area where they gained three seats on the authority, which has a £1 billion budget.
 

Following results this morning it now means that the Conservatives have 45 seats, the Lib Dems have 17, UKIP have ten, Labour have four and there are two independent councillors.

Hugh McGuinness chairman of the Eastleigh branch of UKIP praised his candidates for their hard work. And he added: “It is what I expected as a result of the Eastleigh by-election.

“I am absolutely delighted with the result and I am certain we can deliver at a local level.”

Andy Moore who stood in the Eastleigh East seat said he and his colleagues had “made history” with their strong election showing.
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In Fareham, 23-year-old Christopher Wood wiped the floor from long-standing Conservative councillor Tim Knight by a margin of 927 votes in the Fareham Crofton seat.

Cllr Wood, himself a former Conservative Party member, said: “I am absolutely overjoyed and very proud to have been elected to represent my home village of Stubbington.

“Nationally UKIP were always going to have a good night by there was always a question as to whether percentages would be turned into seats.”

In the New Forest, Green party member Alan Weeks and Conservative candidate Alexis McEvoy were beaten by Chris Lagdon and Philip Fawkes respectively in the Totton North and South Waterside wards.

Ann Vasilesco was the runner up in the New Milton ward in the New Forest.

She said many people had voted UKIP for the first time in their lives.

“People are fed up with the EU and the hold that it has over our lives. This is our last chance. Once we lose our independence it’s gone forever,” she said.