LAWYERS for three Labour MPs are seeking costs from Ukip for “funding and influencing” a libel suit against them by one of its MEPs for political purposes.

Kevin Barron, Sarah Champion and John Healey were awarded £54,000 each in damages after Ukip MEP Jane Collins claimed in 2014 that they had known about child exploitation in Rotherham but failed to intervene.

Ms Collins was also ordered to make an interim payment of £120,000 in costs in February last year, but “nothing has been received against either of those sums,” according to the written submission.