UKIP candidate believes party has real chance

Adrianne Smyth, who was chosen as the party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate at a meeting in Biggleswade on Tuesday, hopes UKIP’s growing success will win over the voters.

The Conservatives have represented the Biggleswade area in Parliament since the 1930s - Alistair Burt has held the seat since 2001.

But Mrs Smyth said: “It has not always been a seat with an 18,000 majority and there is scope for a huge improvement in the UKIP vote. People are thoroughly sick of what is happening to this country, and I feel we do have a realistic chance.”

She cited the Central Beds Council development strategy as one major issue: “It allows for 31,000 new homes. That’s the size of Stevenage, so effectively they want to build a new town in Bedfordshire but with no clear policies on improving infrastructure like hospitals.”

UKIP’s primary policies have surrounded membership of the EU and immigration and Mrs Smyth said these will play a major part in next year’s election: “We can do nothing about immigration and our borders while we are members of the EU.

“We need sensible development that provides for local people, not filled up with people from Eastern Europe.

“This is not about race, it’s about space. I have no problem with migrants coming to work on the land, who are prepared to work hard, and then go home.”

She lives near Stevenage but cited good knowledge of North East Beds. Her husband Tim’s family has farmed in Edworth for 200 years and Mrs Smyth, a keen horse rider, has connections across the area.

A UKIP member since 1999, she is a member of the National Executive and stood in the North East Herts constituency in the 2010 General Election. She manages a portfolio of domestic properties.

In Tuesday’s election she beat former Biggleswade councillor Duncan Strachan. She said: “I feel really sad one of us had to lose. Duncan is a good local chap, very knowledgeable and able, and we need more people like him in the party.”