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Labour braced for European poll Labour down 9% in first results
(30 minutes later)
Labour is bracing itself for what Welsh Secretary Peter Hain predicts will be "terrible" European election results. Labour has won the most votes in the North-East of England at the European Elections, but its share of the vote is down 9% on 2004.
As polls closed across Europe the early indications from two English regions suggest the party could have slipped to fifth or even sixth place. It comes as Labour braces itself for what Welsh Secretary Peter Hain predicts will be a "terrible" night.
If this turned out to be correct, or repeated elsewhere, it will add to the pressure on Gordon Brown who has vowed to stay in office despite calls to go. If the 9% decline in votes is repeated elsewhere, it will add to the pressure on Gordon Brown who has vowed to stay in office despite calls to go.
Counting of votes is nearing completion with results expected shortly. Counting of votes is nearing completion with more results expected shortly.
Speaking to the BBC earlier the Labour former minister Nick Raynsford said the county council elections had been "disastrous" and he expected the European elections to be "even worse".Speaking to the BBC earlier the Labour former minister Nick Raynsford said the county council elections had been "disastrous" and he expected the European elections to be "even worse".
Early indications from the East of England suggest Labour may have come fifth or sixth, while rumours from the South West of England suggest that in Cornwall the party may have been pushed into sixth place behind parties including Mebyon Kernow, which campaigns for Cornish independence. On the basis of the limited number of council declarations so far, the Conservative vote will be down a little, UKIP will be up, Labour will slip into third place and may be struggling to hold that against the Lib Dems whose vote seems to be holding up.
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.
Labour Chief Whip and key Gordon Brown ally Nick Brown, speaking from a count in Sunderland, in the North-East of England, said: "It is clear that our voters are disappointed in us and are sending us a message."Labour Chief Whip and key Gordon Brown ally Nick Brown, speaking from a count in Sunderland, in the North-East of England, said: "It is clear that our voters are disappointed in us and are sending us a message."
But he said the party's vote appeared to be "holding up" in the city.But he said the party's vote appeared to be "holding up" in the city.
'Huge success''Huge success'
Although voting took place on Thursday in the UK the result cannot be declared before 2100 BST on Sunday when voting has finished across Europe.Although voting took place on Thursday in the UK the result cannot be declared before 2100 BST on Sunday when voting has 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 Prime Minister Gordon Brown.This time they are hoping to get more votes than Labour - a result which would add to the already rising pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, who only returned to the cabinet on Friday in a reshuffle as Mr Brown fought to reassert his authority, told Sky News the results "are going to be terrible for Labour... and for all the mainstream parties".Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, who only returned to the cabinet on Friday in a reshuffle as Mr Brown fought to reassert his authority, told Sky News the results "are going to be terrible for Labour... and for all the mainstream parties".
We would expect a lower share of the vote there than in the local elections on Thursday William HagueConservatives Falconer urges leadership debate Nick Robinson's viewWe would expect a lower share of the vote there than in the local elections on Thursday William HagueConservatives Falconer urges leadership debate Nick Robinson's view
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%.