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Britain’s Euroskeptic UKIP makes gains in local elections as voters punish main parties

LONDON – Britain’s anti-European Union party has made big gains in local elections, taking votes from both the governing Conservatives and main opposition Labour Party.

It’s a strong performance for the U.K. Independence Party, which advocates pulling Britain out of the EU and stopping the unfettered right to entry of European citizens.

With about a third of results declared Friday from voting for 161 local authorities, UKIP had almost 100 seats, well over its predicted total of 80.

Party leader Nigel Farage said the result meant “we are serious players” in British politics.

Labour also made gains, especially in London, which largely defied the UKIP surge.

Britons also voted Thursday in European Parliament elections. Those results will be announced Sunday along with tallies from 27 other EU countries.

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