Conservatives win Sleaford by-election with Labour trailing in fourth place

Labour slipped to fourth position, from second place in the 2015 general election

The Conservatives have comfortably held the Sleaford and North Hykeham seat with Ukip the runner-up in the parliamentary by-election.

Tory candidate Caroline Johnson will be the new MP after winning 17,570 votes, beating Ukip's Victoria Ayling, who had 4,426.

It was a bad result for Labour, slipping from second place at the 2015 general election to fourth, behind the Liberal Democrats.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Johnson said her presence at Westminster would bolster Theresa May's majority and support the Prime Minister on Brexit.

The contest was triggered by the resignation of Tory MP Stephen Phillips over "irreconcilable policy differences" with the Government on issues including the handling of the process of quitting the European Union.

In her acceptance speech Dr Johnson, who won more than half the votes cast, said: "I look forward to strengthening the Government's majority in Parliament so Theresa May, our Prime Minister, can get on with the job of triggering Article 50, leaving the European Union and building a country and economy that works for everyone."

The Tory majority of 13,144 is far lower than the 24,115 secured by Mr Phillips last year but represents a comfortable hold for the Conservatives in a by-election with a turnout of just 37%.

Dr Johnson won 53.51% of the votes, down 2.68% on the share in 2015, while Ukip won 13.48%, down 2.21%.

Ms Ayling acknowledged the difficulties her party had endured with two leadership contests in the space of a few months following Nigel Farage's decision to step down.

Both Mr Farage and new leader Mr Nuttall campaigned in the seat and Ms Ayling said her second place was an "endorsement" of the recently elected party chief.

She said: "This is a great endorsement of his leadership and how we can go forward as a united party to not just come second in the future, but first, and get MPs elected to Westminster for Ukip."

In 2015, Labour came a distant second behind Mr Phillips but the party was leapfrogged by Ukip and the Liberal Democrats in the by-election.

Labour's Jim Clarke won 3,363 votes, a 10.24% share, down 7% on 2015, while Liberal Democrat Ross Pepper's 3,606 votes gave him a 10.98% share, up 5.33% from the general election.

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said the "strong result" came off the back of last week's success in Richmond Park, where Sarah Olney ousted former Tory Zac Goldsmith.

"It shows that the Liberal Democrats are back as an electoral force, now in areas that voted Leave as well as Remain and in a seat that has not elected a Lib Dem MP in modern times," he said.

"With Labour yet again nowhere, and after losing their deposit in Richmond, the Liberal Democrats are the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit Government."

Press Association