The coalition has been dealt a major by-election blow as the Liberal Democrats finished sixth place and the Tories were overtaken by the UK Independence Party (Ukip).
In a humiliating result for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in Barnsley Central, his party finished behind not only Labour and the Conservatives but also Ukip, the British National Party and a local independent.
There was also embarrassment for Prime Minister David Cameron as the Tories saw their vote share slump dramatically and the anti-Brussels Ukip beat them into third.
Labour cruised as expected to a resounding victory in what is one of the party's safest seats.
Newly-elected MP Dan Jarvis, a former army major, increased Labour's majority from 11,093 to 11,771, despite a much lower turnout than in last May's general election.
Only 36.5 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots, down from 56.45 per cent last year.
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