Is Mark Reckless about to become UKIP’s second elected MP?

Nov 20 2014
Written by Scott Roberts

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Voters are heading to the polls in the Rochester and Strood by-election, where UKIP’s Mark Reckless hopes to become the party’s second elected MP.

Mr Reckless, widely seen as the favorite to win, defected from the Conservatives to UKIP in September, having been elected to Parliament in May 2010.

He announced his defection at UKIP’s autumn conference, following in the footsteps of former Tory Douglas Carswell, who became UKIP’s first elected MP in October.

Mr Carswell retained his Clacton seat with an increased majority.

The victory coincided with UKIP leader Nigel Farage making one of his most offensive statements of the year, declaring that migrants living with HIV should be banned from entering Britain.

Douglas Carswell, whose father was one of the first doctors to identify HIV in Uganda, appeared uncomfortable with the position and attempted to downplay the row without criticising his new leader.

Unlike Mr Carswell, who described it as “arrogant”, Mark Reckless voted in favour of same-sex marriage last year, a position that puts him at odds with many of his UKIP colleagues.

Nigel Farage has continued to oppose the reform – despite briefly suggesting in a PinkNews Q&A this summer that his position had changed.

In September, Mr Farage said he thought the debate which led to same-sex marriage becoming legal in England and Wales was “not particularly needed”.

The UKIP leader has pinned his opposition on the fear that the European Court of Human Rights could prosecute registrars and churches for refusing to marry same-sex couples.

The UK Government, human rights groups and lawyers have repeatedly rejected such claims, pointing to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act’s “triple lock” safeguards.

Here is a full list of candidates standing in the Rochester and Strood by-election:-

Barker, Mike – Independent

Challis, Christopher – Independent

Davidson, Hairy Knorm – Official Monster Raving Loony Party

Fransen, Jayda – Britain First

Goldsbrough, Stephen William – Independent

Gregory, Clive – Green Party

Juby, Geoff – Liberal Democrats

Khan, Naushabah – Labour

Long, Nick – People Before Profit

Osborn, Dave – Patriotic Socialist Party

Reckless, Mark – UK Independence Party