Roger Helmer: Ukip’s first elected MP?
If reports are correct Roger Helmer is set to become Ukip candidate in Newark & possibly party's first elected MP pic.twitter.com/WLN5uP0NtD
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) May 5, 2014
He could appeal to the party’s key target voters
According to the Sun the controversial Ukip MEP, Roger Helmer is being lined up to be the party’s candidate for the Newark by-election which takes place on June 5th two weeks after the May 22nd Euros.
If, as is widely assumed, Ukip do well in the Euros then they’ll go into the by-election on a high note and who knows what the outcome could be.
The Tories are hoping that a successful defence of the seat will partially burst the Ukip bubble and are throwing everything into the fight.
Helmer is lucid, articulate and one of the party’s heavyweights. He’s attracted a fair amount of controversy in the past over his views on gays. That might or might not help him amongst the segment of voters where Ukip has been most successful – older men.
This looks set to be a very tight contest with Labour hoping to come through the middle as the Tories and Ukip slug it out.
Bet365 have the best price of 9/2, on Ukip in Newark.