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UK leaders awaiting European Parliament poll results UK European election results due
(about 3 hours later)
The UK's party leaders are awaiting the results of elections to the European Parliament, the first nationwide test of electoral opinion for four years. The first European election results are due to start coming in from 12 regions across the UK.
Voting took place on Thursday but results will not be announced until after polls close in other European Union member states at 22:00 BST. Voting took place on Thursday but the UK had to wait until polls closed in other EU states before declaring.
A total of 73 MEPs will be elected from nine regions in England as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.A total of 73 MEPs will be elected from nine regions in England as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Conservatives topped the polls in the last European elections in 2009. UKIP looks set to deliver its promised "political earthquake" by topping the polls, with Labour coming second, a senior Labour source said.
Five years ago, The Conservatives got 27.7% of the total vote, ahead of UKIP on 16.5%, Labour on 15.7%, the Lib Dems on 13.7%, the Green Party on 8.6% and the BNP on 6.2%. But, the source added, the vote for Ed Miliband's party was "up significantly" on the 15.7% it achieved in 2009 - when it achieved the worst result in the party's modern history.
UKIP are hoping to go one better than in 2009. The Conservatives, who topped the polls in the last European elections in 2009, look set to come third.
'Tight' Counting has been taking place at local councils throughout the Sunday and the votes are now being sent to regional centres for collation - the first results could be known as soon as 10:30 BST.
Their leader Nigel Farage has said the polls are "tight" but has predicted that his party will cause a "political earthquake" by getting the most votes. Anti-EU parties from the left and right are expected to gain significant numbers of MEPs across all 28 member states in the wake of the eurozone crisis and severe financial squeeze.
The party has been celebrating gains in Thursday's council elections in England, which saw it add 161 councillors and led Mr Farage to predict it could get its first MPs elected next year. The far right anti-EU National Front was forecast to win in France, according to exit polls.
Labour is hoping to do better than in 2009, when the party - which by that stage had been in power in Westminster for 12 years - suffered its worst post-war election defeat. In Denmark, the anti-immigration Popular Party is also reported to be ahead in exit polls.
The Lib Dems, however, are preparing for a bad night. They won 11 seats in 2009, with some predictions they could be wiped out altogether. Pro-EU parties are still expected to hold the majority in parliament. Turnout across the EU is up slightly at 43.1%, according to estimates.
Ahead of Sunday's results, senior figures in the party have dismissed calls for Nick Clegg to step down after 200 activists - including two general election candidates - signed a petition urging him to make way. In the UK, the Liberal Democrats, the most pro-European of the mainstream parties, are facing the prospect of losing all 11 of their MEPs.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is facing MPs' questions over his leadership and calls to quit from activists including general election candidates.
Conservative leader David Cameron has been urged by influential Tory MP David Davis to bring forward his promised EU referendum by a year to 2016 to persuade defectors to UKIP that he is serious.
But Conservative cabinet minister Philip Hammond has insisted the vote was skewed by a significant number of "lender voters" who would abandon UKIP and return to the Conservative fold for the 2015 general election.
In the European elections five years ago, The Conservatives got 27.7% of the total vote, ahead of UKIP on 16.5%, Labour on 15.7%, the Lib Dems on 13.7%, the Green Party on 8.6% and the BNP on 6.2%.
UKIP has been celebrating gains in Thursday's council elections in England, which saw it add 161 councillors and led Mr Farage to predict it could get its first MPs elected next year.
The Green Party of England and Wales has set itself a target of tripling its representation from two to six MEPs and of finishing ahead of the Lib Dems in fourth place.The Green Party of England and Wales has set itself a target of tripling its representation from two to six MEPs and of finishing ahead of the Lib Dems in fourth place.
The BNP won two seats in 2009 after getting 6.2% share of the vote but opinion polls have suggested their nationwide support has fallen sharply since then and they could struggle to retain these seats.The BNP won two seats in 2009 after getting 6.2% share of the vote but opinion polls have suggested their nationwide support has fallen sharply since then and they could struggle to retain these seats.
'Closed list''Closed list'
In total, 30 parties are contesting the European elections, including the SNP, Plaid Cymru, Sinn Fein, the Democratic Unionist Party and Ulster Unionist Party which all won seats in 2009.In total, 30 parties are contesting the European elections, including the SNP, Plaid Cymru, Sinn Fein, the Democratic Unionist Party and Ulster Unionist Party which all won seats in 2009.
Britain is one of eight countries to use a "closed list" system where people vote for a party, rather than an individual.Britain is one of eight countries to use a "closed list" system where people vote for a party, rather than an individual.
The parties - here is a guide to each of them - decide who goes on the candidate list for each of the electoral regions, with the ones at the top standing the best chance of being elected.The parties - here is a guide to each of them - decide who goes on the candidate list for each of the electoral regions, with the ones at the top standing the best chance of being elected.
The way seats are allocated within each European constituency uses the D'hondt system, which is a form of proportional representation.The way seats are allocated within each European constituency uses the D'hondt system, which is a form of proportional representation.
Across Europe as a whole, 751 MEPs will be elected to the European Parliament, in proportion to countries' population size.Across Europe as a whole, 751 MEPs will be elected to the European Parliament, in proportion to countries' population size.
The powers of the parliament, which sits in both Brussels and Strasbourg, have expanded since the last election in 2009.The powers of the parliament, which sits in both Brussels and Strasbourg, have expanded since the last election in 2009.
MEPs now negotiate legislation with national government ministers in what is called "co-decision", before parliament votes on the laws.MEPs now negotiate legislation with national government ministers in what is called "co-decision", before parliament votes on the laws.
They have a say on budget areas including agriculture and regional aid.They have a say on budget areas including agriculture and regional aid.