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Labour down 9% in first results Labour down 9% in first results
(10 minutes later)
Labour has 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 has 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.
It comes as Labour braces itself for what Welsh Secretary Peter Hain predicts will be a "terrible" night.It comes as Labour braces itself for what Welsh Secretary Peter Hain predicts will be a "terrible" night.
If the decline in its vote is repeated elsewhere it will add to the pressure on Gordon Brown who has vowed to stay in office despite calls to go.If the decline in its vote 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 more results expected shortly.Counting of votes is nearing completion with more results expected shortly.
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.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.
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.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.
'Stick together'
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he was disappointed with the result, saying: "It is up but I would have preferred it to be more."UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he was disappointed with the result, saying: "It is up but I would have preferred it to be more."
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. 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".
"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.
On the basis of the limited number of council declarations in other parts of the UK, the Conservative vote at the European elections 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.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.
'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 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 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%.