The main Westminster parties suffered at the hands of Ukip in local elections today, with Nigel Farage's "people's army" forcing the Tories to lose control of two councils in southern England while also taking seats in Labour's northern strongholds.
Senior Labour figures acknowledged the impact that the rise of Ukip had on their vote, while a group of Tory backbenchers called for a pact with the party to avoid splitting the Eurosceptic vote in next year's general election.
The Liberal Democrats were also expecting to "take a kicking" from voters as a result of the policies implemented by the coalition Government.
Five gains by Ukip saw Castle Point, which covers Canvey Island in Essex, shift from Conservative to no overall control. Tories also lost control of nearby Southend-on-Sea.
Ukip also enjoyed success in Labour's heartlands, taking 10 of the 21 council seats up for election in Rotherham, including nine gains, although Ed Miliband's party comfortably retained control of the authority, with Ukip the second largest party.
Ukip director of communications Patrick O'Flynn said he wanted the party to secure more than 100 council seats, telling Sky News: "That would be terrific for us. I think we can do it."
A further indication of whether the party can achieve its hoped-for political "earthquake" will come when votes in the European elections are counted on Sunday, with opinion polls suggesting they could finish first.
Votes were cast throughout the UK for the European Parliament contest to return 73 MEPs, while more than 4,000 council seats at 161 English local authorities, including the London boroughs and those in Northern Ireland, are also up for election.
Labour sources had indicated that the party might win 200 seats on a good night, but senior MP Emily Thornberry said she expected the figure to be "around 150".
She told Sky News: " If the Tories had a real chance of winning the next general election, they have to win seats tonight because in 2010 that was the night they failed to win a majority.
"In 2015 they have to improve on what they have done now and they haven't and they're losing seats."
A senior Labour source acknowledged that Ukip's rise had "some impact" on Ed Miliband's party but claimed it was "looking as though there has been a big Tory/Lib Dem collapse".
The source claimed Labour's results were looking strong in London, especially in Tower Hamlets and Croydon - a key target for the party.
But there was criticism of Labour's efforts from Eurosceptic MP Graham Stringer, who told the BBC: "We have not done as well as we should have done in both the presentation of our policies and the organisation of the campaign."
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling told Sky News the Tories were continuing to gain seats from Labour, adding: "If I was sitting in Labour headquarters tonight, I would be worried.
"This does not feel to me like the start of an evening that is the path to Downing Street in nine or 10 months' time."
David Cameron said he was proud of the Tory election campaign,"whatever the results", in an email to supporters.
But Tory MPs Douglas Carswell, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Peter Bone called for the Conservatives and Ukip to work together in 2015 to ensure a referendum on Europe.
Mr Rees-Mogg told the BBC: "In a first-past-the-post system, if they don't get those votes into one pot, then both those sides end up losing."
With the Liberal Democrats expecting a further erosion in their local government powerbase and a potential wipeout of their MEP, Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "It is going to be a difficult night - I think we've never concealed that - but not just for us. I think both Labour and the Conservatives will find it difficult tonight.
"But we're in Government, we take a kicking for the things the Government does that are unpopular and it does reflect on us."
He told Sky News he expected the Lib Dems would be "pleasantly surprised" by the outcome of the council results in areas where the party is well organised.
The party has focused its efforts on areas where it has MPs - including the Tory target Kingston-upon-Thames, where Lib Dem Cabinet minister Ed Davey has his Westminster seat.
Mr Cable dismissed talk that Nick Clegg's future as Lib Dem leader could be called into question if the party endured a poor night, saying: "There isn't a leadership issue and I think he has enhanced respect as a result of being willing to engage with these very difficult issues."
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/cameron-proud-tory-campaign-230121752.html
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