Iain Duncan Smith warned a vote for UKIP is a gain for Labour as he cast his vote today.

The Chingford and Woodford Green MP of 23 years was joined by his wife Betsy as they visited the polling station at Rushcroft Foundation School in Rushcroft Road, Chingford. 

Mr Duncan Smith predicted a good turnout in the area and said there is "a lot at stake" if the Conservatives were not in government after tomorrow.  

Asked whether UKIP's growing popularity is a threat to the seat he has held comfortably since 1992, Mr Duncan Smith, said: "I’m not worried about UKIP. 

"All I can do is put my record on the line and stand for what I believe in. 

"I’m the one that has actually been fighting European treaties for 24 years, not UKIP.

"If you vote UKIP you will end up with a Labour party backed by the Scottish nationalists and the break-up of the UK will then follow. 

"People voting for UKIP will not get what they really want, they will get Labour. 

"By voting UKIP at the local election, they delivered two Labour councillors and didn’t get a UKIP candidate. 

"This is a general election and is about voting for a government, not a protest vote."

"If they want a referendum, there is only one party that can give them this. 

He said he  has always being sceptical about the EU and does "not believe in a super-state" or "being run by Brussels."   

For the last six weeks, he has been campaigning locally and nationally and believes he is still as popular with voters now than when he took up post as work and pensions secretary in 2010, despite widespread criticism of his welfare reforms.  

He added: "I do not think I’m less popular in the constituency because of my role as work and pensions secretary. 

"We’ve have had to make big changes to improve the quality of the position that we are in and most people understand we have to reform welfare and by in large, the changes have been popular."

He was met outside the polling station by UKIP candidate Freddy Vachha and the pair shook hands. 

Mr Vachha, said: "I did not wish him good luck and asked him to budget himself this evening for a re-count."

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:  

Polling cards in hand: Iain Duncan Smith and wife Betsy head to polling station to cast their vote