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Labour slumps to historic defeat Labour slumps to historic defeat
(40 minutes later)
Labour has suffered its worst post-war election result as it was beaten into third place by UKIP and saw the BNP gain its first seats at Brussels.Labour has suffered its worst post-war election result as it was beaten into third place by UKIP and saw the BNP gain its first seats at Brussels.
Labour's share of the vote at the European elections was just 15.3% - worse than party bosses had feared.Labour's share of the vote at the European elections was just 15.3% - worse than party bosses had feared.
The Tories won with 28.6%, beating Labour in Wales but failing to increase their total share significantly.The Tories won with 28.6%, beating Labour in Wales but failing to increase their total share significantly.
The results have sent shockwaves through UK politics and led to renewed calls for Gordon Brown to quit as PM.The results have sent shockwaves through UK politics and led to renewed calls for Gordon Brown to quit as PM.
The BNP gained a seat in Yorkshire and Humberside and in the north west of England, where party leader Nick Griffin was elected - the first time the anti-immigration party has won seats at national elections.
'Two-fingered salute''Two-fingered salute'
The BNP gained a seat in Yorkshire and Humberside and in the North-West of England, where party leader Nick Griffin was elected - the first time the anti-immigration party has won seats at national elections.
Their result was condemned across the political spectrum, with both the Tories and Labour calling it a "sad day" for British politics.Their result was condemned across the political spectrum, with both the Tories and Labour calling it a "sad day" for British politics.
It was a long night of painful firsts for the Labour Party Nick Robinson Read more from Nick European voters punish the left UKIP beats Labour to second place
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "The BNP is like the ultimate protest vote. It is how to deliver the establishment a two-fingered salute. I think largely it is a comment on Westminster politics."Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "The BNP is like the ultimate protest vote. It is how to deliver the establishment a two-fingered salute. I think largely it is a comment on Westminster politics."
Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles said the BNP had been able to make its breakthrough because of Labour weakness. It was a long night of painful firsts for the Labour Party Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Read more from Nick class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/8088309.stm">European voters punish the left class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8088343.stm">UKIP beats Labour to second place
"What has essentially happened is that there has been a retreat particularly by Labour but we haven't been able to fill that particular vacuum," he said, adding he was "sad about that".
But in his victory speech, Mr Griffin said he was "absolutely delighted," adding "it will be a huge change in British politics".But in his victory speech, Mr Griffin said he was "absolutely delighted," adding "it will be a huge change in British politics".
'Very, very bad'
He said "The most demonised and lied about party in British politics has made a massive breakthrough. The public have had their say in a democratic election and we should respect that."He said "The most demonised and lied about party in British politics has made a massive breakthrough. The public have had their say in a democratic election and we should respect that."
With results in the Western Isles of Scotland and Northern Ireland still to come, it is clear that Labour suffered one of its most abject results of all time.With results in the Western Isles of Scotland and Northern Ireland still to come, it is clear that Labour suffered one of its most abject results of all time.
Its deputy leader Harriet Harman told the BBC: "It was a very, very bad defeat for us." 'Dismal' result
Its deputy leader Harriet Harman conceded there had been a "big fall" in the Labour vote and it appeared Labour had been hit "much harder" by anger about MPs' expenses.
"It was a dismal result," she said.
"We have to understand the concerns that people are expressing and address them."
If we have beaten him, he has got to go UKIP leader Nigel Farage on Gordon Brown Tories top European poll in Wales Salmond hails 'historic' Euro win Poll result 'frustrates' GreensIf we have beaten him, he has got to go UKIP leader Nigel Farage on Gordon Brown Tories top European poll in Wales Salmond hails 'historic' Euro win Poll result 'frustrates' Greens
She said the expenses scandal had hit Labour worse than the Tories because they were in government and because "people expect better of us than the Conservatives". But she backed Gordon Brown saying he was "resilient" and would sort out the economy and expenses.
But backing the prime minister she said: "People expect Gordon Brown to sort out the economy and clean up the expenses problem and that is a massive responsibility on him but he is very resilient and that is what he will do." "What we won't be doing is wringing our hands, being disunited," she said.
It was a night when the other UK-wide Westminster parties effectively trod water on their 2004 European results, with the Lib Dems coming fourth and the Tories increasing their share by just over 1%. Conservative leader David Cameron said he was "delighted" with the results: "The Conservative party were the clear winners in these elections.
"We topped the poll, we increased our share of the vote, increased our number of MEPs, we won in almost every part of the country and had some staggering results like topping the poll in Wales."
'Mocked and derided'
He said taken with last week's local election results it showed "an enormous gap opening up between Labour and Conservative" with the Tories "almost getting twice as many votes as Labour last night".
Other UK-wide Westminster parties effectively trod water on their 2004 European results, with the Lib Dems coming fourth and the Tories increasing their share by just over 1%.
This left the smaller parties to benefit - possibly from public anger over the MP expenses scandal.This left the smaller parties to benefit - possibly from public anger over the MP expenses scandal.
Jubilant BNP leader hails 'great victory'
UKIP, which campaigns for Britain's withdrawal from the EU, gained 17.4% of the vote and increased its number of MEPs to 13 - beating Labour into third place.UKIP, which campaigns for Britain's withdrawal from the EU, gained 17.4% of the vote and increased its number of MEPs to 13 - beating Labour into third place.
Leader Nigel Farage said his party's performance was a "hell of an achievement," as its chances were written off by some pundits ahead of the campaign and it claimed it had not had a chance to properly debate the European issue. Leader Nigel Farage said his party's performance was a "hell of an achievement" which sent a clear signal to Gordon Brown.
He said it sent a clear signal to Gordon Brown: "He has been beaten by a party that he mocked and derided as being on the fringes - so if we have beaten him, he has got to go." "He has been beaten by a party that he mocked and derided as being on the fringes - so if we have beaten him, he has got to go," Mr Farage said.
In two English regions, the South-East and South-West, the Green Party beat Labour into fifth place.In two English regions, the South-East and South-West, the Green Party beat Labour into fifth place.
Daniel Hannan turns poetic to encourage Gordon Brown to quit 'Solid result'
Nationally, the Greens increased their share of the vote to 8.7% but leader Caroline Lucas blamed the electoral system for her party's failure to gain more than its current two MEPs.Nationally, the Greens increased their share of the vote to 8.7% but leader Caroline Lucas blamed the electoral system for her party's failure to gain more than its current two MEPs.
"In the South East we have increased our vote by 50% and we are disappointed it has not translated into a second seat," Ms Lucas said."In the South East we have increased our vote by 50% and we are disappointed it has not translated into a second seat," Ms Lucas said.
Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan, whose YouTube attack on Gordon Brown became a worldwide hit, said Labour had endured its worst poll performance since it became a national party in the 1920s. Daniel Hannan turns poetic to encourage Gordon Brown to quit
"I am not sure people have a complete grasp of the magnitude of what is happening," he told BBC News.
Pressure on Brown
And he repeated Conservative calls for a general election, saying: "The only reason now for keeping Gordon Brown is fear of the electorate."
Labour's group leader in the European Parliament, Glennis Willmott, blamed Labour's disastrous showing on the Westminster expenses scandal, which she said was the "only thing people were talking about on the doorstep".
Burnham: 'Sad day for British politics'
But she called on the party to rally behind Mr Brown, as she claimed he was the best person to lead the country out of economic recession.
"We should stop all of this nonsense and we should be uniting behind our leader and giving him our full support," she told BBC News.
The Lib Dems saw their share of the vote shrink slightly on 2004, but leader Nick Clegg told the BBC that taken with last week's local election results, his party had a strong platform to make gains against Labour at a general election.The Lib Dems saw their share of the vote shrink slightly on 2004, but leader Nick Clegg told the BBC that taken with last week's local election results, his party had a strong platform to make gains against Labour at a general election.
"On the European vote we held our own, we actually added an MEP - would I have liked to have done even better, yes of course but I think given the very volatile nature of the elections it was a solid result.""On the European vote we held our own, we actually added an MEP - would I have liked to have done even better, yes of course but I think given the very volatile nature of the elections it was a solid result."
He said Labour's 12-year dominance of British politics was over and the party "finished".He said Labour's 12-year dominance of British politics was over and the party "finished".
In Scotland, SNP leader Alex Salmond hailed a "historic" victory after the Nationalists hammered Labour.
Turnout downTurnout down
In Scotland, SNP leader Alex Salmond hailed a "historic" victory after the Nationalists hammered Labour.
Across Scotland the SNP secured 29% of the vote to Labour's 21%, comfortably achieving the target the SNP leader had set his party at the start of the campaign.Across Scotland the SNP secured 29% of the vote to Labour's 21%, comfortably achieving the target the SNP leader had set his party at the start of the campaign.
Welsh Labour also suffered humiliation in the European elections, with the Conservatives topping the poll.Welsh Labour also suffered humiliation in the European elections, with the Conservatives topping the poll.
Full Story - How the night unfolded Send us your commentsFull Story - How the night unfolded Send us your comments
It is the first time since 1922 Labour has failed to come first in a Welsh election, as its vote dropped by 12%.It is the first time since 1922 Labour has failed to come first in a Welsh election, as its vote dropped by 12%.
Labour, Conservatives and Plaid Cymru won a seat each, as did UKIP, which will send its first Welsh MEP to Brussels.Labour, Conservatives and Plaid Cymru won a seat each, as did UKIP, which will send its first Welsh MEP to Brussels.
The turnout, with Northern Ireland yet to declare, is around a third of the vote, down 4% from 2004, but that is largely down to the fact that some areas had all-postal ballots last time. There was no sign that the expenses scandal had led to a boycott of the polls. The turnout, with Northern Ireland yet to declare, is around a third of the vote, down 4% from 2004, but that is largely down to the fact that some areas had all-postal ballots last time.
The results are likely to pile further pressure on Gordon Brown, who faces a crunch meeting of Labour MPs on Monday, which may decide his future.The results are likely to pile further pressure on Gordon Brown, who faces a crunch meeting of Labour MPs on Monday, which may decide his future.
Former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer earlier repeated his call for a new leader to re-unify the party.
"I think unity will only come with a leader that the mainstream votes for," he said.
In the English local elections held on Thursday the Conservatives got a projected 38% of the vote, the Lib Dems 28% and Labour 23%.