Labour's Sarah Champion has won the Rotherham by-election
Labour has won the Rotherham by-election. Sarah Champion was elected as the town's newest MP in the early hours of this morning. She replaces Denis MacShane who resigned over his Parliamentary expenses. But it was also a good night for UKIP. Ben Erlam reports.
Sarah Champion, the new MP for Rotherham, has said the Labour Party took "nothing for granted" as it fought to retain the seat.
Ukip's candidate in the Rotherham by-election has declared that her party will have an MP elected "very soon".
Jane Collins came second behind Labour as she recorded Ukip's best ever by-election result, picking up a 21.79% share of the vote.
With counting still underway in the Rotherham by-election, Ukip Leader Nigel Farage has told Calendar News: "Whatever happens this is a huge step forward".
Ballots have been verified and officials have announced the turnout in the Rotherham by-election is 33.89%.
Polling stations have closed in the Rotherham by-election and the counting of ballots will get underway shortly.
The contest was triggered by the resignation of Denis MacShane who stepped down after being condemned for wrongly claiming Parliamentary expenses.
11 candidates are fighting for the seat. The Labour Party is being tipped to retain it.
The result is expected to be declared at around 2am.