Ukip wins first Welsh Assembly seats as Nigel Farage hails party's 'breakthrough'

Nigel Farage has congratulated the party's Welsh branch

Ukip has made a major breakthrough in Wales securing its first ever seats in the Assembly.

According to Nigel Farage, the party has gained support from left-leaning voters disillusioned by a “metropolitan” Labour party that “doesn’t look very patriotic”.

The anti-EU party gained at least 20 council seats, as well as a minimum of five seats in the Assembly.

Ukip also took second place to Labour in two Westminster by-elections for seats in Ogmore and Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough.

“Ukip support is still growing, it’s growing predominantly at the expense of the Labour party,” the Ukip leader told Sky News.

“Many traditional labour voters look at Mr Corbyn and at a Labour party that has gone way, way, way to the left, that is very metropolitan and which under Mr Corbyn doesn’t look very patriotic and completely refuses to engage with issues like immigration which is the number one issue in their lives.”

The party secured its Welsh Assembly seats via the regional voting system, with candidates Nathan Gill and Michelle Brown among those selected for the North Wales region.

The party could gain more seats as further regional results are announced. Some polls have predicted up to 11 seats.

Ukip has suffered from internal divisions in recent months and has faced accusations of being sidelined in the EU referendum Leave campaign.

But Mr Farage said that on the basis of the elections, the party could still claim the support of millions of people.

More to follow