Ukip hopes for upset victory in Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election

Voters will pick a replacement for Conservative MP Stephen Phillips, who stepped down

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage addresses a public meeting at Sleaford Legionaires Club ahead of the by-election (Getty Images)

Nigel Farage has made a last-ditch bid to cause an upset at the Sleaford by-election – telling voters the contest is about Brexit.

New Ukip leader Paul Nuttall will face his first big electoral test tomorrow at the by-election, which will choose the MP to replace Conservative Stephen Phillips.

Mr Phillips, who supports Brexit but remaining in the European single market, stepped down citing “irreconcilable policy differences” with Theresa May’s approach to Brexit.

He leaves the Conservatives with a huge 24,000 majority, with Labour and Ukip far behind in second and third place at the 2015 general election.

Ukip will be hoping to do well in the seat, which is overwhelmingly eurosceptic and voted for Brexit, along with the rest of Lincolnshire, where it is located.

“People here voted for Brexit and this is about getting the right deal, which you won't get if people vote Conservative,” Mr Farage said on a visit to the Sleaford and North Hykeham seat, the Daily Express newspaper reports.

He earlier this week said he would not stake a prediction on the result of the election, however.

Lincolnshire county councillor Victoria Ayling is contesting the seat for Ukip, while Labour is standing Jim Clarke.

The Conservative candidate is Dr Caroline Johnson, while the Liberal Democrats are standing Ross Pepper. Marianne Overton and Sarah Stock are standing as independent candidates.

The Green Party is not fielding a candidate in the by-election.

The contest comes after the Liberal Democrats overturned a 23,015 majority to defeat Zac Goldsmith in Richmond Park.