Stormy waters for the "main" political parties

The by-election results make interesting reading. I know that by-elections are not always a good guide to general election "form" as people often vote knowing that the result will not change the governing party. Whilst the result in Clacton was expected as Douglas Carswell was by all accounts a good constituency MP; the fact that UKIP came so close in Heywood and Middleton will worry the Labour party. We live in interesting times!