Ukip leader Nigel Farage has claimed the Labour party is “anti-English” just hours after shadow minister Emily Thornberry offered her resignation to leader Ed Miliband following her controversial tweet depicting a Rochester home.

Mr Farage’s remarks, in which he also claimed that Labour were “happy to pander” to Scotland, come as Rochester by-election results showed his party had achieved its second MP after Conservative-defector Mark Reckless was elected with a majority of nearly 3,000 votes.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Mr Farage rounded on the Labour party and Mr Miliband, claiming: “Well, I doubt they can make these inroads under this leader.”

"I mean Labour has increasingly become anti-English over time, happy to pander in every way to Scotland, but somehow this Labour Party or new Labour believes that any sense of English identity is disreputable and wrong," he added.

The Labour candidate, Naushabah Khan, came third in Rochester with 6,713 votes, compared to Mark Reckess who gained 16, 887 votes. 50.67 per cent turnout saw some 40,113 votes cast.

Mr Farage denied the Ukip victory was the result of a “protest vote”, claiming on the Today programme that if “you vote Ukip, you get Ukip” – rhetoric that will no doubt appeal to his seemingly burgeoning fan base.

Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Show all 8 1 /8 Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Chris Kelly Won Dudley South with majority of 3,856 in 2010 but is standing down next May. Has been wooed by Ukip, which is targeting his seat, but insists he will not join Nigel Farage’s party. Has declined to say why he is leaving Parliament Facebook Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Mark Pritchard Former secretary of the influential Tory 1992 Committee. MP for The Wrekin. Majority 9,450. Photographed with Nigel Farage at an event recently but said it was just a “friendly photo" Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Philip Hollobone MP for Kettering. Majority 9, 904. He said in 2013: “So many constituencies are now marginal because Ukip is now providing a fourth dynamic into what has previously been a three-party dynamic. I think we could end up with a situation where in selected seats, where the Conservative candidate or member of Parliament is in favour of leaving the EU, they would endorse him in those seats" Rex Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip David Nuttall MP for Bury North. Majority 2,243. Outspoken right-winger. Has said it would be “beneficial” if the Tories and Ukip could agree a “common programme” in order to unite the right in British politics Twitter Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Nadine Dorries MP for Mid Bedfordshire. Majority 15,152. Lost Tory whip after appearing on ITV’s “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here,” but later reinstated. Has said her constituents some constituents feel a "huge amount of empathy with Ukip". Hinted at standing on a joint ticket but denied she will defect PA Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Jacob Rees-Mogg MP for Somerset North East. Majority 4,914. Independent-minded like Douglas Carswell. Has called for an electoral pact between Tories and Ukip. “There are many members of Ukip who are very close to the Conservative Party and there are many Conservatives to whom Ukip looks favourably,” he said in May David Hedges Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Gordon Henderson MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey. Majority 12,383. Wants Britain to leave the EU and admits he has been “sounded out” by Ukip. But insists the party has “no principles,” saying: “I’d sooner lose than be a turncoat” Who's next? Conservative MPs who could defect to Ukip Peter Bone MP for Wellingborough. Majority 11,787. Independent-minded backbencher who hates the Coalition. Has said: “Somehow the Conservatives and Ukip have got to work together and have some sort of [electoral] pact or accord” UPPA/Photoshot

However, responding to remarks by Conservative MP Stward Jackson that MPs would be “insane” to defect to Ukip following the results, Mr Farage bit back: "I expect Mr Jackson will lose his Peterborough seat next year.”