Nigel Farage: 'I think we're going to win' Rochester and Strood

Rochester, Kent

With five hours before the polls close in Rochester and Strood, Nigel Farage is confident that Ukip will romp home to victory. Outside the Sweet Expectations shop on Thursday evening, the Ukip leader emerged with a pack of bon bons and brushed aside predictions of a landslide victory as ‘slightly over-egged’. Yet Farage appeared confident that Mark Reckless will become Ukip’s second MP. ‘I feel our vote is solid,’ he said ‘I think we’re going to win but I think it might be a bit closer than people think.’ With the prospect of a significant victory over the Tories, Farage was also keen to raise the importance of this by-election. ‘This matters because if Ukip win, this is our 271st target seat. If we win this then looking forward to next year’s general election, all bets are off, the whole thing’s up in the air’,’ he said. Farage also stoked the tensions with the Conservative Party as they face the prospect of losing a by-election they once were confident of winning. ‘In a sense it’s rather high noon isn’t it?’ Farage said. ‘Because the Prime Minister in a sense put his own credibility on the line by almost being the candidate for the Conservative Party for the first half of the campaign and clearly for Ukip, this is it.’ Ukip insiders are reiterating Farage’s sentiment — that victory is in their sights but not necessarily by the 15 or 12 point margin that some polls have predicted. Of course, this is classic expectations management, so if Reckless’ victory happens to be of a similar level to the surprise margin in Clacton, it becomes an even better night for Ukip and Reckless. But for now, the kippers, including Farage, are hitting the doorsteps of Rochester to ensure every last person who is considering voting does. They have canvassed the whole place three times over, now is their last chance.