Labour has comfortably won the Oldham and Royton by-election, in a result that will ease the pressure on Jeremy Corbyn, Laura Hughes reports. Jim McMahon won the seat with 17,209 votes, with a majority of 10,835 and a turnout of 40 per cent. The lower turn out means Labour's majority increased from 34 to 39 per cent. Mr McMahon had the task of matching the late Michael Meacher's substantial majority of 14,738, which the former MP secured in May's general election. Ukip came second, with just 6,487 votes, despite the eurosceptic party focusing it's campaign on Mr Corbyn's failings and questions over his reaction to the Paris terror attacks. Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, posted on twitter that he had "evidence from an impeccable source that today's postal voting was bent". Speaking earlier, Mr Farage insisted the postal vote would secure the election for Labour and blamed a "particular block vote that is a very difficult demographic for Ukip." He has said "serious questions need to be asked" about the "perverse" election result this morning. Mr McMahon told the count in Oldham: “I am delighted to have been elected tonight. "Michael Meacher was a close friend of mine and he was admired by people across the country as someone who worked tirelessly for the causes he believed in. "I will do my best to live up to those high standards." Congrats @CllrJimMcMahon who has won the Oldham West & Royton by-election and increased our share of vote since May pic.twitter.com/uZgtpDfdKv — Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) December 4, 2015 Paul Nuttall, Ukip's deputy leader told journalists: "Postal voting on demand like we have now in an affront on our democracy. He said the "postal vote has distorted the result" of the election and ensured Labour have won. Claiming the postal vote gave an advantage to the incumbent, he said: "It gives a great advantage to the incumbent and those who run the council, because they know where their voters are. "You've got to ask yourself, is this Britain or is this Harare?" He accused Labour of a "sensational operation" and said "let's not kid ourselves." He also said the Labour vote has decreased and Ukip is attracting disillusioned voters. Mr Nuttall said it was "only a matter of time before we win a by election from Labour in the North or the midlands, probably 18 months. "When that happens they will begin to fall like dominos." Mr McMahon told the room he felt the late Michael Meacher was "watching over" him, and that he had been "so scared of letting Michael down." He said: "I'm just glad that we have, together, delivered a result that Michael would be proud of".