Disproportionate British newspaper coverage of Ukip helped to increase support for the party, according to a new academic study, amid a growing debate on the role the media plays in boosting the popularity of anti-immigrant political parties. Political scientists at the University of Southampton investigated whether increased media coverage of Ukip...

Ukip said it was "not worried" after the Green Party soundly defeated them in a council by-election with a huge swing of 27.9 per cent. Sid Phelps won the Lydbrook & Ruardean ward seat, on the Forest of Dean district council, with 360 votes. Ukip's candidate only received 113, a swing of -12.2 per cent, trailing the 248 votes for the Conservatives and 231 for Labour. Only 25.8 per cent of the 4,025-strong electorate turned out to vote.