Nigel Farage resigns as UKIP leader

Nigel Farage has confirmed he will be stepping down as UKIP leader after failing to win Thanet South from the Conservatives.

Mr Farage said: "Personally, there's a bit of me that is disappointed but there is a bit of me that is happier than I have felt for many, many years."

Conservative Craig Mackinlay won Thanet South by almost 3,000 votes, racking up 18,838 to Mr Farage's 16,026.

The result leaves UKIP with just one MP, Douglas Carswell, who held Clacton on a reduced majority.

Mark Reckless, who along with Mr Carswell defected from the Tories last year and won a by-election, lost Rochester and Strood.