Labour Party suffers historic defeat in European vote (Roundup)

Jun 8, 2009, 1:20 GMT

London - Pressure on British Prime Minister Gordon Brown intensified Sunday with a crushing defeat for his ruling Labour Party in European elections, which brought successes for anti-European and anti-immigration extremist parties.

According to results early Monday from most of the 12 voting regions, the Labour Party's share of the vote was down to a dismal 14.1 per cent, compared with 22 per cent in the last European poll in 2004.

Analysts said the result was the worst for Labour in a nationwide poll since 1918.

The ruling party was overtaken by UKIP, the anti-European UK Independence Party, which scored around 17 per cent of the vote across Britain.

The Conservatives improved their share of the vote to 29 per cent, while the Liberal Democrats, Britain's most pro-European party, gained 14 per cent, slightly less than in 2004.

With voter turnout at around 30 per cent, smaller fringe parties benefited from voter apathy, analysts said.

While enthusiasm for European elections is traditionally lower in Britain than in most other EU member states, the drop in turnout from 41 per cent was also seen as the electorate's response to a damaging scandal over the abuse of parliamentary expenses by lawmakers from all the mainstream parties.

Low turnout was also believed to have helped the British National Party (BNP) win its first seats to the European Parliament Sunday. The nationalist party, led by Nick Griffin, won two seats.

The party campaigns on an anti-Islamist, anti-immigration platform, denies the Holocaust and 'defends rights for whites.' It opposes Turkey's entry into the EU outright.

Meanwhile, Labour's losses were likely Sunday to reignite the widespread discontent with Brown's leadership in Labour Party ranks, following last week's near-rebellion as government ministers walked out in what was seen as an attempt at a coup.

Brown is set to face a crucial meeting of Labour's parliamentary party Monday evening, amid reports that rebels would increase their efforts to gain the support of a minimum of 70 Labour backbenchers to trigger a leadership contest.

Already before counting began, leading Labour figures said the party was resigned to a 'terrible' showing. Britain has 72 seats in the European Parliament.