This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8088133.stm

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Labour fourth in latest results Labour 'to dip below 20% of vote'
(10 minutes later)
Labour has been beaten into fourth place by the Tories, UKIP and Lib Dems in the East of England - the latest Euro election results to declare. Labour could be on course to dip below 20% of the vote in what deputy leader Harriet Harman has called a "very dismal" night for the party.
It comes as Labour braces itself for what deputy leader Harriet Harman said would be a "very dismal" night. After the first two English regions to declare, Labour is fourth on 14.4% of the vote behind the Lib Dems on 14.8%, UKIP on 18.4% and the Tories on 28.1%.
On the results so far, Labour's vote could dip below 20% - an historic low, and it could be beaten by UKIP. There are still 10 more regions to declare their results.
If repeated across the UK it will pile further pressure on Gordon Brown, who is facing calls to stand down as PM. But if repeated across the UK it will pile pressure on Gordon Brown, who is facing calls to stand down as PM.
The Conservatives won easily in the East of England, although their share of the vote remained roughly the same as in 2004 - as did that of UKIP, which came second and the Lib Dems, who came third.
But Labour's vote was down 6% as the Greens and the BNP both increased their share.
Earlier, Labour won the most votes in the North-East of England in the first UK European election result - but its share of the vote was down 9% on 2004.Earlier, Labour won the most votes in the North-East of England in the first UK European election result - but its share of the vote was down 9% on 2004.
Labour, which won 25% of the vote in the North-East, the Conservatives, which won 19.8%, and the Lib Dems, on 17.6%, were each awarded a single MEP. Victorious Labour candidate Stephen Hughes blamed the Westminster expenses scandal for his party's difficulties but said he was firmly behind Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
'Stick together' Conservative Martin Callanan and Liberal Democrat Fiona Hall were second and third respectively - retaining their seats.
The Tory vote was up 1% on 2004, the Lib Dem share stayed the same. UKIP, who came fourth, and BNP, who were fifth, were both up 3% in what is a traditional Labour stronghold. UKIP were narrowly beaten into fourth by the Liberal Democrats by just 13,000 votes.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he was disappointed with the result, saying: "It is up but I would have preferred it to be more." The North East is regarded as one of Labour's strongest regions, although they have been under pressure in recent years from both the Tories and the Lib Dems.
We would expect a lower share of the vote there than in the local elections on Thursday William HagueConservatives Falconer urges leadership debate Brown defiant over leadershipWe would expect a lower share of the vote there than in the local elections on Thursday William HagueConservatives Falconer urges leadership debate Brown defiant over leadership
Labour Chief Whip and key Gordon Brown ally Nick Brown said: "What our voters have been telling us on the doorstep is that they are staying at home. They are disappointed in us."Labour Chief Whip and key Gordon Brown ally Nick Brown said: "What our voters have been telling us on the doorstep is that they are staying at home. They are disappointed in us."
But he urged Labour rebels, such as former minister Lord Falconer who are calling for a new leader, to either nominate a challenger or "all get behind the prime minister and the government".But he urged Labour rebels, such as former minister Lord Falconer who are calling for a new leader, to either nominate a challenger or "all get behind the prime minister and the government".
"We should all stick together and do what the country wants us to do - deal with the mess of Parliamentary expenses and get us through the economic downturn," he told the BBC News Channel."We should all stick together and do what the country wants us to do - deal with the mess of Parliamentary expenses and get us through the economic downturn," he told the BBC News Channel.
Ms Harman told the BBC: "We are bracing ourselves for very dismal results, there is no doubt about that."Ms Harman told the BBC: "We are bracing ourselves for very dismal results, there is no doubt about that."
But she sought to deflect attention from the prime minister, putting the blame for Labour's performance on the MPs' expenses which she said had hit the party hard.But she sought to deflect attention from the prime minister, putting the blame for Labour's performance on the MPs' expenses which she said had hit the party hard.
"Our supporters are absolutely furious with us about expenses," she said. "They expect us to have higher standards than the Tories.""Our supporters are absolutely furious with us about expenses," she said. "They expect us to have higher standards than the Tories."
Close battleClose battle
On the results declared so far in English local authority areas, Labour's vote appears to be well down on 2004 and it seems highly likely that they will have considerably less than 20% overall share - an historic low for the party in a national election.On the results declared so far in English local authority areas, Labour's vote appears to be well down on 2004 and it seems highly likely that they will have considerably less than 20% overall share - an historic low for the party in a national election.
Labour seems to be in a close battle with UKIP for second place, the Lib Dem vote seems to be holding up and the Conservatives appear to be struggling to maintain their share on last time, although they are still likely to gain the most overall.Labour seems to be in a close battle with UKIP for second place, the Lib Dem vote seems to be holding up and the Conservatives appear to be struggling to maintain their share on last time, although they are still likely to gain the most overall.
The Greens will be up 2-3% and the BNP may just do well enough to pick up a seat, although it is too early to tell.The Greens will be up 2-3% and the BNP may just do well enough to pick up a seat, although it is too early to tell.
Reports from Wales suggest Conservatives may come top in the European elections in there, the first time Labour would not a poll in Wales since 1918, and UKIP could win one of the four seats up for grabs.Reports from Wales suggest Conservatives may come top in the European elections in there, the first time Labour would not a poll in Wales since 1918, and UKIP could win one of the four seats up for grabs.
There are predictions the SNP could take the largest share of the vote in Scotland.There are predictions the SNP could take the largest share of the vote in Scotland.
'Huge success''Huge success'
Voting took place on Thursday in the UK but the results could not be declared before 2100 BST on Sunday when voting finished across Europe.Voting took place on Thursday in the UK but the results could not be declared before 2100 BST on Sunday when voting finished across Europe.
In the English local elections held on Thursday the Conservatives got a projected 38% of the vote, the Lib Dems 28% and Labour 23%.In the English local elections held on Thursday the Conservatives got a projected 38% of the vote, the Lib Dems 28% and Labour 23%.
But in the European elections it is expected that the UK Independence Party will equal or better its performance from 2004 when it beat the Lib Dems into fourth place.But in the European elections it is expected that the UK Independence Party will equal or better its performance from 2004 when it beat the Lib Dems into fourth place.
This time they are hoping to get more votes than Labour - a result which would add to the already rising pressure on Gordon Brown.This time they are hoping to get more votes than Labour - a result which would add to the already rising pressure on Gordon Brown.
Well, Charlie Falconer... does make the case that any likely alternative leader would do better at an election at any time than Gordon Brown Nick Robinson Read more from Nick Well, Charlie Falconer... does make the case that any likely alternative leader would do better at an election at any time than Gordon Brown Nick Robinson Read more from Nick
The Conservatives put in a strong performance in the local elections in England - taking four councils Labour had held since 1981, two from the Liberal Democrats and winning power on the newly created Central Bedfordshire unitary authority.The Conservatives put in a strong performance in the local elections in England - taking four councils Labour had held since 1981, two from the Liberal Democrats and winning power on the newly created Central Bedfordshire unitary authority.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the English elections had been a "huge success" for the Tories but added: "We will see what the European elections are like later today.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the English elections had been a "huge success" for the Tories but added: "We will see what the European elections are like later today.
"I think with those it is important to remember that in a proportional voting system... that does help the extremist and fringe and minor parties and does fragment the result so obviously we would expect a lower share of the vote there than in the local elections on Thursday.""I think with those it is important to remember that in a proportional voting system... that does help the extremist and fringe and minor parties and does fragment the result so obviously we would expect a lower share of the vote there than in the local elections on Thursday."
'Big choice''Big choice'
The UK Independence Party have already threatened to challenge the result because of a row over the way some ballot papers were folded which meant its box was hidden at the bottom.The UK Independence Party have already threatened to challenge the result because of a row over the way some ballot papers were folded which meant its box was hidden at the bottom.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has said he will resign if the party wins less than 10 seats - at the 2004 elections the party won 12 - three have since left the party.UKIP leader Nigel Farage has said he will resign if the party wins less than 10 seats - at the 2004 elections the party won 12 - three have since left the party.
The Liberal Democrats, the most pro-European of the major parties, were pushed into fourth place by UKIP in the 2004 elections.The Liberal Democrats, the most pro-European of the major parties, were pushed into fourth place by UKIP in the 2004 elections.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage looks pleased at the South East of England countUKIP leader Nigel Farage looks pleased at the South East of England count
They say the elections are a "big choice for Britain" and warn isolation from Europe will make Britain less secure in terms of climate change, crime and terrorism.They say the elections are a "big choice for Britain" and warn isolation from Europe will make Britain less secure in terms of climate change, crime and terrorism.
All the main parties have expressed concerns that voters could use elections for the European Parliament to punish them for the MPs' expenses row.All the main parties have expressed concerns that voters could use elections for the European Parliament to punish them for the MPs' expenses row.
But some of the smaller parties are hoping to benefit - the Greens, who gained two MEPs in 2004, say their track record has been "exemplary".But some of the smaller parties are hoping to benefit - the Greens, who gained two MEPs in 2004, say their track record has been "exemplary".
And there has been speculation that the British National Party could increase its share of the vote enough to get its first MEP elected.And there has been speculation that the British National Party could increase its share of the vote enough to get its first MEP elected.
In the 2004 European elections the Conservatives won 26.7% of votes, Labour 22.6%, UKIP 16.1%, the Lib Dems 14.9%, the Greens 6.3% and the BNP 4.9%.In the 2004 European elections the Conservatives won 26.7% of votes, Labour 22.6%, UKIP 16.1%, the Lib Dems 14.9%, the Greens 6.3% and the BNP 4.9%.