Mark Reckless wins Rochester and Strood for UKIP

Sangeeta Bhabra and Fred Dinenage with comprehensive coverage of the Rochester & Strood by-election result. Philip Hornby, our Political Correspondent, joined them live from the constituency. The coverage from our flagship show for the South East at 6pm - we alway bring you the news FIRST.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage has welcomed the election of Ukip’s second MP, as Mark Reckless was voted in after a by-election in Rochester and Strood.

In interview today, Mr Farage said he believed the Tories had “tried too hard” in their election campaign, and said he believed Mr Reckless had done the right thing by letting his constituents decide whether to keep him in his seat after defecting.

He denied that he was riding on the back of protest votes, saying people "absolutely believed" in what the party stands for.

Bookmakers are offering 500-1 odds that Prime Minister David Cameron will defect to Ukip.

It follows the party's victory in Rochester where Tory defector Mark Reckless won the by-election.

Former shadow cabinet member and University of Kent student, Emily Thornberry MP, issued an apology on Twitter after being criticised for the tweet she posted from Rochester & Strood. It's not known who put the flag up outside her London home.

Mark Reckless has wasted no time in returning to the Commons, arriving in Westminster just hours after his victory in the Rochester and Strood by-election for UKIP.

In a tweet posted this morning, he's revealed he will be sworn in as an MP at 9.30am.

Independent candidate Mike Barker brightened up proceedings at the Rochester and Strood by-election when he arrived dressed as Father Christmas on a scooter decorated with bright fairy lights.

Mr Barker came 10th, polling just 54 votes.

He later spent time chatting with Hairy Knorm Davidson from the Loony Party. Mr Davidson polled marginally better, picking up 151 votes and coming sixth behind the Lib Dem candidate Geoff Juby.

The full results from last night's Rochester and Strood by-election:

• Mark Reckless (UKIP) 16,867
• Kelly Tolhurst (Con) 13,947
  
• Naushabah Khan (Lab) 6,713
• Clive Gregory (Green) 1,692
• Geoff Juby (LD) 349
• Hairy Knorm Davidson (Loony) 151
• Stephen Goldsbrough (Ind) 69
• Nick Long (PBP) 69
• Jayda Fransen (Britain 1st) 56
• Mike Barker (Ind) 54
• Charlotte Rose (Ind) 43
• Dave Osborn (Pat Soc) 33
• Christopher Challis (Ind) 22

UKIP majority: 2,920 Turnout: 40,065 (50.61%)

The Conservative party will win back Rochester and Strood in next year's general election "when the future of the country is at stake," William Hague vowed on Good Morning Britain.

The Leader of the House of Commons admitted "it was always disappointing" not to win but maintained Ukip won "by less than half" of the votes they were predicted.