Norman Dennis claimed South Tyneside Council’s Westoe ward in a by-election on Thursday night.The new councillor was confirmed after two recounts which showed he polled 676 votes to rival Labour candidate Katharine Maxwell’s 625.
It is the first seat to be won by the party at the ballot box, as South Tyneside Council’s other UKIP councillors were defectors.
Grandfather Coun Dennis had previously come a close second to Labour for a South Tyneside seat at the local election.
The by-election had been called after Jane McBride, an independent councillor, died earlier this year.
“We were delighted by the outcome of course,” said UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott. “It shows that UKIP can win under first past the post.
“It was a seat in which we did pretty well in the council election on the same day as the European elections.
“We were only a few percent short of winning then and people took a look and said because of the Euro elections and all the publicity - no wonder you did well.
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