General Election 2015: Ukip could secure four million votes – but only four seats

Nearly four million people could vote for Ukip this General Election – more than the total number of ballots cast in Scotland and Wales combined – one bookie has said. 

 

The party led by Nigel Farage stands to receive 12.75 per cent, or 3,970,000 votes, according to Sporting Index. However because of the spread of those supporters, Ukip stands to gain between four and five seats – one more than Plaid Cymru – the bookie believes. 

 

Meanwhile last election there was a total of 3, 932, 412 votes cast throughout Scotland and Wales, resulting in 99 MPs heading to the House of Commons. 

 

Plaid Cymru, led by Leanne Wood, is expected to retain its three seats in this General Election. Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish National Party is currently predicted to win 42 seats, up from just six at the last election.

 

Ed Fulton, political spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “With our seat prediction falling and opinion polls drifting, many might think that Nigel Farage’s Ukip are increasingly irrelevant in this election. However, we predict that Ukip will win more votes than there were ballots cast in Scotland and Wales in 2010 – combined.

 

“Yet, Ukip may end up with a single MP more than Plaid Cymru when all is said and done.”

 

That would actually be an improvement on polling earlier this week that suggested Ukip was on course to actually lose its seat in Rochester & Strood and fail to gain any other constituency, leaving it with just one – Clacton, where Douglas Carswell's popularity propelled him to a huge victory last autumn.