Labour was today celebrating victory in three parliamentary by-elections in Croydon North, Rotherham and Middlesbrough.
But the celebrations were maybe bigger at the UK Independence Party, which took second place in the two northern seats and recorded its best by-election result when its candidate secured 21.8% of the vote in Rotherham.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage said the results marked "big progress" just a fortnight after his party recorded its previous best by-election result of 14.3% in Corby.
It was a dismal night for the coalition parties, with the Tories fourth in Middlesbrough and fifth in Rotherham.
The LibDems held on to third place behind Ukip in Middlesbrough, but was fourth and lost its deposit in Croydon and finished eighth in Rotherham.
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