UKIP’S south-eastern charge stalled yesterday when a trade union candidate triumphed in a council by-election in one of the party’s target seats. 

Nigel Farage’s party hoped victory in Thursday’s West Thurrock and South Stifford poll would propel them towards victory in the Thurrock constituency at the general election. 

But GMB and Usdaw member Terry Brookes hammered Ukip candidate Russell Cherry, claiming more than half the votes for Labour.