This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-48417664
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| European elections 2019: Lib Dems make London MEP gains | European elections 2019: Lib Dems make London MEP gains |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats were the main winners in the European elections in London, gaining three MEPs in the region. | The Liberal Democrats were the main winners in the European elections in London, gaining three MEPs in the region. |
| Both the Brexit Party and Labour had two candidates elected, while the Green Party took the remaining seat. | Both the Brexit Party and Labour had two candidates elected, while the Green Party took the remaining seat. |
| It means the Conservative Party no longer has any MEPs in London having lost the two seats it won in the 2014 European Parliament elections. | It means the Conservative Party no longer has any MEPs in London having lost the two seats it won in the 2014 European Parliament elections. |
| The Lib Dems vote share rose by 20%. The Brexit Party took 18% of the vote. | The Lib Dems vote share rose by 20%. The Brexit Party took 18% of the vote. |
| Turnout was 41.3% - slightly higher than the 40.1% turnout in the previous election. | Turnout was 41.3% - slightly higher than the 40.1% turnout in the previous election. |
| Labour's share fell by 12.7%, while UKIP and the Conservatives fell by 14.8% and 14.6% respectively. UKIP leader Gerard Batten lost his seat as an MEP. | Labour's share fell by 12.7%, while UKIP and the Conservatives fell by 14.8% and 14.6% respectively. UKIP leader Gerard Batten lost his seat as an MEP. |
| Irina von Wiese, Dinesh Dhamija and Luisa Porritt will now serve as MEPs for the Lib Dems, who beat Labour into second place in Jeremy Corbyn's Islington constituency. | Irina von Wiese, Dinesh Dhamija and Luisa Porritt will now serve as MEPs for the Lib Dems, who beat Labour into second place in Jeremy Corbyn's Islington constituency. |
| Reacting to her victory, Ms Porritt - a councillor for Camden Council - pushed for another referendum. | Reacting to her victory, Ms Porritt - a councillor for Camden Council - pushed for another referendum. |
| She said: "Real and pressing issues have long been ignored by our two main parties, that is why we must have a people's vote." | She said: "Real and pressing issues have long been ignored by our two main parties, that is why we must have a people's vote." |
| A London Labour Party spokesman said the elections "were always going to be tough". | A London Labour Party spokesman said the elections "were always going to be tough". |
| He added: "We're ecstatic that both Claude Moraes and Seb Dance have been elected as MEPs for London. | He added: "We're ecstatic that both Claude Moraes and Seb Dance have been elected as MEPs for London. |
| "Our MEPs will go to Brussels championing workers rights, fighting climate change and the other issues important to our party." | "Our MEPs will go to Brussels championing workers rights, fighting climate change and the other issues important to our party." |
| Benyamin Habib, one of the two newly elected Brexit Party candidates in London, hailed the victory as "a historic result". | |
| He said: "We launched seven weeks ago and proved in that short time the nation still wants Brexit and Brexit with a no deal". | |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Professor Sir John Curtice | By Professor Sir John Curtice |
| Nothing illustrates more clearly the success of the Lib Dems in winning over Remain voters than the party coming a clear first in the capital, something it has never come remotely close to achieving in a previous election. | |
| The Greens have also prospered to some degree with a three point increase in its vote to 12%. | The Greens have also prospered to some degree with a three point increase in its vote to 12%. |
| Meanwhile the Brexit Party has inevitably done less well here with a modest 18% of the vote. | |
| But the weakness of Change UK is underlined by its inability to get more than 5% in this most Remain part of England. | But the weakness of Change UK is underlined by its inability to get more than 5% in this most Remain part of England. |
| After Change UK failed to win a seat in London, MEP candidate and former BBC journalist Gavin Esler thanked "the 170,000 Londoners" who voted for the new party. | After Change UK failed to win a seat in London, MEP candidate and former BBC journalist Gavin Esler thanked "the 170,000 Londoners" who voted for the new party. |
| He said: "Now the real fight begins to save Britain from the self-harm of Brexit in a People's Vote and work to Remain." | He said: "Now the real fight begins to save Britain from the self-harm of Brexit in a People's Vote and work to Remain." |