UKIP hails election surge

Ed Miliband has tweeted a picture of himself welcoming the three new Labour MPs to Westminster after the recent by-elections.

The Labour leader said he was, 'very pleased,' to welcome Sarah Champion MP for Rotherham, Andrew McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough and Steve Reed, MP for Croydon North.

Nigel Farage has told Daybreak that if the Tories and Labour "do not offer absolute binding promises of a referendum on our future in Europe, the UKIP vote will continue to grow."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has told Daybreak that "it would be difficult to see UKIP do a deal with the Conservatives all the while that man [David Cameron] is their leader."

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries, who was suspended from her party whip after taking part in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, has warned her colleagues to take UKIP seriously following its strong overnight by-election results.

Newly-elected Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald has expressed his delight to ITV News at securing a majority of 8,211 despite a by-election turnout of only 16,866 from an electorate of 65,098.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has told ITV News his party will continue to target larger political prizes following the strong performances of its candidates in Thursday's three by-elections.

Newly elected Rotherham MP Sarah Champion has told ITV News that the fifth placed finish of the Conservatives in the constituency's by-election should worry the party.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage hailed his party's success in the three by-elections as its "most impressive result in Westminster elections so far".

Steve Reed's victory in Croydon North saw Labour enjoy a 7.99% swing from the Conservatives, whose candidate Andy Stranack came a distant second.

A total of 24,569 votes were cast from the constituency's 93,063 electorate.

A predicted challenge from Respect failed to materialise, as Lee Jasper - a former aide to ex-London Mayor Ken Livingstone - claimed just 707 votes.

Here are the full results:

• Steve Reed (Lab) 15,898 (64.71%, +8.69%)
• Andy Stranack (Cons) 4,137 (16.84%, -7.28%)
• Winston McKenzie (UKIP) 1,400 (5.70%, +3.97%)
• Marisha Ray (Lib Dems) 860 (3.50%, -10.48%)
• Shasha Islam Khan (Green) 855 (3.48%, +1.51%)
• Lee Jasper (Respect) 707 (2.88%, +2.35%)

• Stephen Hammond (CPA) 192 (0.78%)
• Richard Edmonds (NF) 161 (0.66%)
• Ben Stevenson (Comm) 119 (0.48%, +0.17%)
• John Cartwright (Loony) 110 (0.45%)
• Simon Lane (Nine eleven) 66 (0.27%)
• Robin Smith (Young) 63 (0.26%)