Polling in the North Yorkshire constituency of Thirsk and Malton at the general election is to be postponed after the death of the UKIP candidate, John Boakes, after the close of nominations.
This mirrors the situation which befell South Staffordshire in 2005, when the Lib Dem candidate challenging Sir Patrick Cormack died a few days before the general election.
Mr Boakes failed to turn up to a hustings last night and news of death was announced this afternoon.
Thirsk and Malton is a newly-drawn seat where outgoing Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh will be standing for the Conservatives, defending a notional majority of a little over 14,000.
"All I can say at the moment is that I am so sorry for his family, his friends and his party," Ms McIntosh told ConservativeHome this afternoon.
The Northern Echo speculates that the new poll will take place on May 27th.
Jonathan Isaby
