Summary

  • Conservatives gain Copeland from Labour in by-election

  • Labour win Stoke Central by-election, fighting off UKIP challenge

  • Theresa May hails new MP Trudy Harrison's "astounding victory"

  • Jeremy Corbyn "disappointment" over Copeland, but celebrates Stoke

Live Reporting

Emma Thelwell and Stephen Robb

  1. And over in Stoke...

    The full results in Stoke Central:

    • Gareth Snell, Labour: 7,853
    • Paul Nuttall, UKIP: 5,233
    • Jack Brereton, Conservatives: 5,154
    • Zulfiqar Ali, Lib Dems: 2,083
    • Adam Colclough, Greens: 294
    • Barbara Fielding, Independent: 137
    • The Incredible Flying Brick, Official Monster Raving Loony Party: 127
    • David Furness, British National Party Local People First: 124
    • Godfrey Davies Christian People's Alliance: 109
    • Mohammed Akram, Independent: 56

  2. How did they finish in Copeland?

    Those votes in full...

    • Trudy Harrison, Conservatives, 13,748
    • Gillian Troughton, Labour, 11,601
    • Rebecca Hanson, Lib Dems, 2,252
    • Fiona Mills, UKIP, 2,025
    • Michael Guest, Independent, 811
    • Jack Lenox, Greens, 515
    • Roy Ivinson, Independent, 116

      Turnout: 51.27%  

  3. Gareth Snell wins Stoke-on-Trent Central

    Emma Thomas
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

    "The politics of hope has been chosen over the politics of fear", were the words Gareth Snell declared as he began his victory speech. 

    The Newcastle-under-Lyme councillor won the seat for Labour with a majority of 2,500, taking 7,853 votes. 

    UKIP's Paul Nuttall came second  - but was only just ahead of Conservative Jack Brereton.

    Gareth Snell

  4. Conservatives take Copeland

    The Conservatives have won the Copeland by-election, beating Labour in an area it represented for more than 80 years.

    Trudy Harrison won with 13,748 votes to Labour's Gillian Troughton's 11,601.

    Ms Harrison hailed the victory - the first by-election gain by a governing party since 1982 - as "a truly historic event".

    The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Jamie Reed.

    Copeland, created in 1983, and its predecessor constituency Whitehaven have returned Labour MPs since 1935.  

    Trudy HarrisonReuters

  5. Who were the winners?

    In Copeland, Trudy Harrison won with 13,748 votes to Labour's Gillian Troughton's 11,601.

    Labour's Gareth Snell held Stoke-on-Trent Central with 7,853 votes, seeing off a challenge from UKIP leader Paul Nuttall who got 5,233.

  6. A by-election double - with consequences

    We have two by-election results this morning with potentially far-reaching consequences - Labour has been defeated in Copeland but victorious in Stoke after a UKIP challenge that fizzled out.

    UKIP will be wondering what next after their leader Paul Nuttall failed that challenge in Stoke.

    The Conservatives caused a major election upset by winning the long-held Labour seat of Copeland in Cumbria. 

     It's the first time a governing party has gained a seat at a by-election since 1982.