South Yorkshire: Ukip gains nine seats in Rotherham to become official opposition to Labour

In doing so, they have ousted several prominent Labour councillors, including the deputy leader of the council, and become the official party opposition to Labour who has run the council for 80 years.

The party won seven seats from Labour and two seats from the Conservatives and held the one seat it won in last year’s byelection.

Deputy leader Jahangir Akhtar, first elected in 2000, lost his seat in the Rotherham West ward to Maureen Vines.

Richard Russell, the Labour member for Rother Vale and cabinet member for waste also lost his seat.

Until Thursday Labour had 57 councillors in Rotherham, with the Conservatives on four and one Independent and one Ukip.