West Lancs UKIP have bottled out of a by-election battle in Skelmersdale.
Despite the national hype, they failed to win any seats at the last borough council elections in West Lancashire, and slumped to last place in the council by-election held in Parbold last year.
They have now failed to put forward a candidate forward for the Skelmersdale North by-election which is being held next month following the sad passing of Labour councillor Barry Nolan.
David Meadows, Conservative by-election candidate for Skelmersdale North, said: "Despite their bluster and bravado, UKIP locally have bottled out of contesting this important by-election. With the council on a knife-edge, they are running scared because they know they have no answers on the local issues which this by-election is being fought on.
"The fact they couldn't be bothered to put up a candidate shows that, for all their talk, they are not interested in dealing with local issues."
David is pledging that, if elected, he will be a real voice for people in the town: "Labour have taken Skelmersdale for granted for far too long. Their abysmal record over the past 10 years in Skelmersdale include closing down primary schools, and now they are threatening to close down Glenburn Sports College.
"They also talk down Skelmersdale at every opportunity and have no positive vision for the town.
"Conservatives work hard all year round, not just at election time, and if elected I will be a real champion for the people of Skelmersdale."