Bad night for Labour in Euro elections
Labour had a bad night across Britain in the European elections – as the BNP gained its first seats in Brussels.
Deputy leader Harriet Harman called it a "very dismal" result for Labour.
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Labour's Glenis Willmott is still smiling with Tory Emma McClarkin and UKIP's Derek Clark
The party lost 12% of its vote in Wales, where they were beaten by the Tories for the first time since 1918.
The BNP took two seats in Yorkshire and Humberside and the North West, where leader Nick Griffin captured a seat.
The BNP vote was branded a "sad day" by the Tories and Labour.
With almost all the results from across the UK in, Labour had managed just 15.4% of the popular vote to UKIP's 17.5%.
The Tories had 28.3% while the Liberal Democrats were in fourth with 14%.
This vote is expected to increase pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is facing calls from leading figures within his own party to stand down.
Labour were beaten into fifth place behind the Greens in two English regions – the South-East and South-West.
However, it was proving to be a night when none of the Westminster parties were realising their hopes.
The Conservatives seem to be doing no more than maintaining their share of the 2004 vote, the Lib Dems seem to be slipping slightly, while Labour's performance now seems to be at the very floor of expectations at the beginning of the night.
However, it was Nick Griffin's victory that attracted the most controversy.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham, a North West MP, said the result was a "sad moment for British politics''.
He said: "It is deeply uncomfortable to see the BNP polling in the numbers they have.
"Whatever the country's problems, the BNP are never the answer.
"The BNP is the ultimate protest vote, a two fingered vote and largely a comment on Westminster politics. I think the BNP have got very clever in hiding their racist beliefs.''
Sir Richard Leese, Labour leader of Manchester City Council said: "It is a very sad day for the North West.
"I think it shows the flaws in a system that allows them to get a seat with such a small share of the vote.
But Mr Griffin said he was "absolutely delighted. It will be a huge change in British politics.
"The most demonised and lied about party in British politics has made a massive breakthrough tonight.
"The public have had their say in a democratic election and we should respect that.''
19 Comments
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by Bill Smith, leicester
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 8:30AM
“M, You have made a good point. It's time that living on benefits became a stigma in this country, as it is in the USA.”
by M, leciestershire
Monday, June 08 2009, 2:53PM
“John That is one of thousands, and your bullying threatening tone just goes to show what idiots your ilk are! So the BNP want to blame the immigrants do they? so who are to blame for the generations of families living on welfare never doing a day's work who are proud of it, where do we deport those to? everyone in this country needs to put their own house in order before blaming everyone else for this country's problems. Yes the government is to blame, yes migrant workers may take jobs, but who have brought people up to think the majority of those jobs done by migrants are beneath them? and shouting to try and get your point is more pathetic than anything i could possibly say.”
by M, leicester
Monday, June 08 2009, 2:23PM
“It is a very sad day when idiots like the BNP get a voice, especially since Sunday marked the 65th anniversary of the D Day landings. Anyone who votes BNP should reliase those brave men gave their live to stop extremism should we really dis-credit that sacrifice by voting it in? I agree our political leaders have done a disgraceful job, but these brainless thugs are not the answer!”
by Davey, Knighton
Monday, June 08 2009, 2:12PM
“I'm trying very hard to recall the election when I was asked by either labour or tory candidates. 1/ If I agreed with either mass immigration. 2/ Multi culturism. 3/ 70% of our laws being made by Brussels!
I wonder why the BNP did so well!!!”
by Carl, leicester
Monday, June 08 2009, 1:56PM
“Does anybody have any real solutions to all the problems in this country? Regardless of whether or not it is the main political parties, BNP or whatever other party we elect no party will truly please everyone it isn't that straight forward.”