Labour cling on in Stoke Central by-election defeating Ukip’s Paul Nuttall as Professor Green makes bizarre appearance at counting hall

LABOUR have clung on in the Stoke-Central by-election, seeing off a challenge from Ukip.

Paul Nuttall was hoping to snatch the seat from Labour in a bid to become the party's second MP.

Speaking to reporters at the by-election count last night, the Ukip leader said that former leader Nigel Farage would not have done better. "No chance," he said. "We just didn't get enough votes".

His party came second with 5,233 votes this morning, but closely followed by the Conservatives with 5,154 votes. That was around a 2 %increase from the 2015 general election.

And the Lib Dems doubled their share of the vote.

Mr Nuttall said after the results were announced: "There's a lot more to come from us. We're not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere."

He announced his intention to stand again in the 2020 general election.

"There's other issues beyond Brexit... we will have success in the future," he added.

The turnout was down to 38% - which could have been affected by Storm Doris which battered Britain yesterday.

Ukip's Peter Whittle tonight said that his party had forced the Government to take Brexit seriously.

"All the way along, we have had to be the backbone of Brexit. That will absolutely continue," he said.

A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn said that their "excellent campaign" showed a clear victory for Labour.

They said: "Stoke has rejected Ukip's politics of division and dishonesty. Ukip's claim to represent working class people has been exposed as a sham."

Labour's Ruth Smeeth said: "Tonight is the beginning of the end for Ukip."

Mr Snell said in his victory speech that Ukip had failed to divide the city. He said: "This city will not allow ourselves to be defined by last year’s referendum. And we will not allow ourselves to be divided by the result.

“Nor will we be divided by race, or faith, or creed...So for those who have come to Stoke-on-Trent to sow hatred and division, and to try to turn us away from our friends and neighbours, I have one message – you have failed."

But bizarrely the bad weather didn't put off rapper Professor Green making an unexpected appearance at the count in the Fenton Manor sports centre.

It is unclear why the musician was in The Potteries but reports suggest he was making a documentary.

And the Tories took Copeland this morning - in a historic by-election win for the Government.

Trudy Harrison will become the Conservatives' new MP for the area, after securing the seat with more than 2,000 votes.