This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-27573890
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Euro election: Wales 'as Eurosceptic as rest of UK' | Euro election: Wales 'as Eurosceptic as rest of UK' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The result of the European election proves Wales is as Eurosceptic as the rest of Britain, UKIP's Welsh MEP says. | The result of the European election proves Wales is as Eurosceptic as the rest of Britain, UKIP's Welsh MEP says. |
| The party was narrowly beaten into second place by Labour in Wales. | The party was narrowly beaten into second place by Labour in Wales. |
| UKIP MEP Nathan Gill said the support that voters had shown his party was more than a protest vote and it would be built upon at the general election. | UKIP MEP Nathan Gill said the support that voters had shown his party was more than a protest vote and it would be built upon at the general election. |
| The Conservatives, who topped the poll in 2009, came third, followed by Plaid Cymru. | The Conservatives, who topped the poll in 2009, came third, followed by Plaid Cymru. |
| It means no change in that the four parties each retain a seat representing Wales in the European Parliament. | It means no change in that the four parties each retain a seat representing Wales in the European Parliament. |
| The Green Party came fifth with a 4.6% vote share, with the Liberal Democrats sixth on a disappointing 4%. | The Green Party came fifth with a 4.6% vote share, with the Liberal Democrats sixth on a disappointing 4%. |
| Results in Wales | Results in Wales |
| Labour 206,332 28.15% (+7.86) | Labour 206,332 28.15% (+7.86) |
| UK Independence Party 201,983 27.55% (+14.76) | UK Independence Party 201,983 27.55% (+14.76) |
| Conservative 127,742 17.43% (-3.79) | Conservative 127,742 17.43% (-3.79) |
| Plaid Cymru 111,864 15.26% (-3.25) | Plaid Cymru 111,864 15.26% (-3.25) |
| Green 33,275 4.54% (-1.04) | Green 33,275 4.54% (-1.04) |
| Liberal Democrat 28,930 3.95% (-6.73) | Liberal Democrat 28,930 3.95% (-6.73) |
| British National Party 7,655 1.04% (-4.38) | British National Party 7,655 1.04% (-4.38) |
| Britain First 6,633 0.90% (0.00) | Britain First 6,633 0.90% (0.00) |
| Socialist Labour Party 4,459 0.61% (-1.20) | Socialist Labour Party 4,459 0.61% (-1.20) |
| NO2EU 2,803 0.38% (-0.87) | NO2EU 2,803 0.38% (-0.87) |
| Socialist Party of Great Britain 1,384 0.19% (0.00) | Socialist Party of Great Britain 1,384 0.19% (0.00) |
| Labour received 28.7% of the vote with UKIP in second on 28.1%. The Tories had 17.8% and Plaid 15.6%. | Labour received 28.7% of the vote with UKIP in second on 28.1%. The Tories had 17.8% and Plaid 15.6%. |
| Mr Gill told BBC Radio Wales: "We always said we could win here in Wales. That's what we strove for, that's what we set our target for and we were literally just 4,350 votes short of actually beating Labour here in Wales. | Mr Gill told BBC Radio Wales: "We always said we could win here in Wales. That's what we strove for, that's what we set our target for and we were literally just 4,350 votes short of actually beating Labour here in Wales. |
| "We are over the moon. | "We are over the moon. |
| "The people of Wales have spoken and they are as Eurosceptic as people are in England or Scotland." | "The people of Wales have spoken and they are as Eurosceptic as people are in England or Scotland." |
| He denied that support for his party was a protest vote. | He denied that support for his party was a protest vote. |
| "Who would go out in the rain just to protest? Most people wouldn't. They did it because they believe in Britain and they want us to leave the EU." | "Who would go out in the rain just to protest? Most people wouldn't. They did it because they believe in Britain and they want us to leave the EU." |
| He said the party would build on the result at the general election next year. | He said the party would build on the result at the general election next year. |
| People were "fed up of the mainstream political parties", he said. | People were "fed up of the mainstream political parties", he said. |
| "We found that on the doors, on the streets, people were telling us they were voting for us this time and they would say 'we are going to vote for you next time as well'." | "We found that on the doors, on the streets, people were telling us they were voting for us this time and they would say 'we are going to vote for you next time as well'." |
| Labour's Owen Smith, who is Shadow Welsh Secretary, said UKIP, like other right wing parties across Europe, had "made extraordinary gains". | |
| "We topped the poll in Wales," he said. | |
| "We didn't top the poll in other parts of Britain. We've got to acknowledge that and be clear eyed about what it means. | |
| "I think it means for all political parties that there is a massive volume of people out there... who are just cheesed off with politics." | |
| On the campaign trail, he said Labour voters had told him: "We are going to vote UKIP this time and we are going to do it to kick you." | |
| Re-elected Conservative Kay Swinburne said engagement with the public was an issue: "We have to raise the profile of what the EU is about and what MEPs do for the day job." | Re-elected Conservative Kay Swinburne said engagement with the public was an issue: "We have to raise the profile of what the EU is about and what MEPs do for the day job." |
| She added: "I am particularly pleased that the Conservative vote was maintained in those areas of Wales where we currently have strongly elected members." | She added: "I am particularly pleased that the Conservative vote was maintained in those areas of Wales where we currently have strongly elected members." |
| Meanwhile, Jill Evans thanked the people of Wales "for trusting Plaid Cymru for being a strong voice in Europe for the next five years". | Meanwhile, Jill Evans thanked the people of Wales "for trusting Plaid Cymru for being a strong voice in Europe for the next five years". |
| There had been concerns in the party that Ms Evans, first elected 15 years ago, was in danger of losing the seat this time round. | There had been concerns in the party that Ms Evans, first elected 15 years ago, was in danger of losing the seat this time round. |
| The Liberal Democrats admitted it had been a disappointing night. | The Liberal Democrats admitted it had been a disappointing night. |
| Aled Roberts AM, chair of the Welsh Lib Dem European campaign, added: "However, we can hold our heads up high over the campaign we fought. While most parties remained silent on the issue of Europe, we had the strength to fight a positive campaign and to stand up for the benefits of remaining in the EU." | Aled Roberts AM, chair of the Welsh Lib Dem European campaign, added: "However, we can hold our heads up high over the campaign we fought. While most parties remained silent on the issue of Europe, we had the strength to fight a positive campaign and to stand up for the benefits of remaining in the EU." |