British Labour Party expected to be punished in Euro poll (Feature)

By Anna Tomforde Jun 1, 2009, 5:08 GMT

London - When the British electorate gets fed up with its politicians, European elections become a popular stick with which to beat them. This year's European Parliament poll is no exception.

Indeed, as the British political system is being rocked by a low- intensity revolution sparked by outrage over parliamentary expenses, Britons can't wait to punish their leaders.

It is their last chance before the next general election, due over the next 12 months, for voters to register their verdict on the expenses furore and the economic recession.

And what is more, with the European poll being held under the rules of proportional representation, many will seize the chance to back smaller parties without feeling that they have wasted their vote.

Fringe parties, helped by an anticipated low turnout, are expected to do well in the European poll, which is held in Britain on June 4 and coupled with local elections in key regions of England.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's ruling Labour Party is braced for electoral disaster, so much so that Brown has mapped out a 'national plan' to revive its fortunes with an immediate cabinet reshuffle, public service reforms and anti-recession policies.

There are signs that the expenses scandal, which has revealed outrageous exploitation of public funds by members of parliament (MPs) from all parties, could boost right-wing fringe parties and even push Labour into a humiliating fourth place, behind the openly anti-European UK Independence Party (UKIP).

'Say 'No' to European Union' proclaims UKIP's strikingly simple slogan, before its subtitles list 'unlimited immigration,' the 'control of our lives' and the 'large bill' of contributions to the EU' as reasons for advocating Britain's withdrawal.

UKIP, which according to polls could win as much as 17 per cent of the vote, believes it does not need to focus its campaign on the domestic political turmoil. That turmoil has already sufficiently undermined voters' trust in the main parties, UKIP members claim.

By contrast, the openly racist British National Party (BNP) has switched its customary anti-immigration theme to the expenses scandal, portraying the main parties as greedy pigs with the slogan: 'Punish the Pigs.'

In an 'unholy alliance,' the two right-wing fringe parties are tapping into growing anti-foreigner sentiment in Britain - a theme always popular in times of recession. Thus, the BNP hopes to win its first seats in the Strasbourg parliament.

A recent opinion survey by pollster YouGov showed that around 80 per cent of Britons are 'concerned' about migrant numbers and around 60 per cent want to see the introduction of annual quotas for immigration.

For the Conservatives, the main opposition party led by David Cameron, the European poll is something of a staging post to an election victory next year.

However, the party, which has promised a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty if it wins, also has a serious credibility problem in Europe, where it would be facing a resurgent and powerful Franco-German alliance rejecting Cameron's brand of euroscepticism.

In addition, the Conservatives' support for Turkey's full EU membership has upset Paris and Berlin sufficiently to ensure that Cameron would be met with downright political emnity in the European club, British commentators believe.

From a British perspective, the Liberal Democrats are likely to be the winners in the European poll.

The party, led by former Euro MEP Nick Clegg, has profited from the wrath currently directed at Labour and the Conservatives. It has also been at the vanguard of a revived debate about the introduction of a proportional representation electoral system in Britain.

The Liberals, who scored just 15 per cent of the vote in the 2004 European parliament elections, hope to raise their share to above 20 per cent, moving ahead of Labour and the smaller fringe parties.

There is little doubt in London, however, that the widespread discontent with Brown's leadership will resurface after the European poll, which is expected to be coupled with significant losses for Labour in the local elections.

'This is no longer just about the personality of the prime minister, it is also about the politics of a party that is facing oblivion at the next general election,' the Daily Telegraph wrote.