Ukip gives three Tories free pass

Euro-sceptics Philip Davies in Shipley, Janice Small in Batley and Spen, and Wakefield candidate Alex Story could have seen the vote split between the parties.

Ms Small said she was delighted, and denied the support of Ukip compromised David Cameron's efforts to move the party to the centre ground of politics, hailing the Tory leader as "the most Eurosceptic we have ever had".

Ukip launched their manifesto with a poster featuring the faces of Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg alongside the slogan "Sod The Lot".

The party promises an "end to uncontrolled mass immigration", a ban on Muslim face coverings, and and end to political correctness in public affairs.