(Reuters) – British Prime Minister Theresa May’s ruling Conservative Party retained a parliamentary seat in a strongly pro-Brexit area on Friday, heading off a challenge from the anti-EU UK Independence Party.
The victory of Caroline Johnson, who won 17,570 votes in Sleaford and North Hykeham in eastern England, was never much in doubt – the seat has long been a Conservative stronghold, and will boost support for May’s plans to leave the European Union.
But the vote also underlined the electoral difficulties facing Britain’s main opposition Labour Party, which slipped from second place in the 2015 election to fourth place, winning just 3,300 votes. Labour is trailing the ruling Conservative Party in opinion polls by 14 points at 28 percent.
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