Jeb Bush has abandoned his White House bid after a dismal performance in the South Carolina Republican primary on a night that saw Donald Trump, the New York property magnate, score a big win in the Palmetto State.

Mr Bush ended his campaign after achieving just 7.8 per cent of the vote in a state that the former Florida governor once hoped to win. In a concession speech, he said he was “proud” of his campaign, but that the voters had spoken. “The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken,” Mr Bush said. “I respect their decision.”

Mr Trump won a convincing near-33 per cent of the vote in the southern state. Marco Rubio, the Florida senator, emerged in second place with 22.5 per cent, just ahead of Ted Cruz, the conservative senator from Texas, with 22.3 per cent. John Kasich, the Ohio governor, came just behind Mr Bush, with 7.6 per cent. Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon, received 7.2 per cent of the vote.