Official 2009 European and UK local elections thread

Fantastic results from my point of view (as a card carrying Conservative). I'm also pleased to see the English Democrats making headway. After all the dire warnings of the BNP sweeping seats up, they won a paltry 3 councillors.

Considering turnout was only 20% in some areas, and some council seats have an electoral hold over about 200 people, the BNP could have been voted into those seats by just 21 people...

Still, its a result that I hope is repeated in the general election next year. It's about time the map turned blue.

reply to post by 44soulslayer

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The Conservatives are no better than Labour; some of the problems we are facing today have their roots in the last Conservative term in office.
However, Labour had ample time to address the situation and did nothing.
Both parties are totally incompetent.
David Cameron is so wishy-washy it scares me to think that the security of this country maybe in his hands!
He has no coherent policies and reeks of popularism.
But then again, Brown is the most indecisive leader ever.

It is no suprise that The Tories cleaned up, especially with their funded UKIP splitting the anti-European / Immigration vote.

It will be interesting to see the Euro results tomorrow as that was nationwide and maybe more representative.

My instincts are that there will be an exceptionally low turnout, even for Euro elections.
Talking to a lot of regulars in my pub I get the feeling of general apathy and disgust at ALL parties and they feel that it's pointless voting as it doesn't matter who they vote for they are all self-serving and don't have the countries best interests at heart.
Pretty damning and very sad, but very true.

[edit on 6/6/09 by Freeborn]

reply to post by Freeborn

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Unfortunately the British public have no-one to blame but ourselves.

The Tories consistently tried more right of centre candidates such as Hague, yet the electorate didn't acknowledge them. The general public aren't interested in policy, they just want a popular totemkopf.

Cameron is playing precisely that role. When he's in power, he will enact his policies. Until then, he's saying as little as possible while gaining ground via the popularity game.

The Liberal Democrats will, in time, over take Labour and become the main protagonist on the centre left. Labour are redundant and pointless, a trade union party in a post-Marxist world does not translate into a sensible platform.

Socialism is dead.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why the Labour heartland is being systematically annihilated. Scotland is a perfect example, SNP have replaced Labour and the Liberals will reach similar conclusions in England.

It's been very interesting stuff...

Here's a map I was following, it's interesting, because you can slide it back and look at previous local elections too, back to 1985.

www.telegraph.co.uk...

I was kind of pleased to see Labour take a beating, but it was a bit of a shame to see all the gains go to Conservative, I was hoping personally the Lib Dems would make some gains. Although not a perfect party by any means, they have some more 'commonsense' policies in my view, and are slightly 'newer blood', which I think we could use.

This convinces me even more of what I and some others have been thinking, that Conservatives could be taking power at the next general.

I'm not sure just how bad I think that is, I think that in a time of bad economics like now, we could use a slightly conservative fiscal policy, kind of like after the problems of the 1970s, we needed a short term kick in the pants to get back on track. But, I felt that the Conservatives held on too long with Thatcher, and rather than just the kick in the pants we needed, we got hospitalised instead, I hope that doesn't end up happening again.

reply to post by Foppezao

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Hah, thank you for that dutch debate, very lively, are these the leaders of the parties? I only know Wilders in that group. I wish our UK politicians could hold such debate.

[edit on 6-6-2009 by jimminycricket]

reply to post by infinite

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As much as I respect your opinion and acknowledge your political and economic awareness I fear you have got that a tadge wrong.

Trust me, I live in what is traditional Labour heartland in North East England and you underestimate how ingrained into the psyche of the majority of people are traditional voting habits.
The Lib Dems will never replace Labour, they are considered a complete joke and waste of time. (All the major political parties are in my humble opinion).
If Labour is ever replaced it will be with either apathy and a complete lack of desire to vote or with a Nationalistic or anti-European party.
BNP or UKIP or possibly even the English Democrats have more potential than the Lib Dems in North East England.

European Election Day

Turnout in France is only 15% so far

First results: 2200 CET

Slovakia, 19% turnout.

24% in Italy turnout thus far.

For the total EU population, turnout is expected to be between 35-40%

reply to post by infinite

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If there is a general low turn out across the whole of Europe would you consider this to be a condemnation of the EU as a whole and proof positive of the need to debate and vote on the UK's continued membership of a antiquadated orgamisation that does nothing but offer beuraucratic and tyrannic anti-UK legislation.

reply to post by Freeborn

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The European Union is, sadly, becoming pointless. The Parliamentary elections are being decided on domestic issues - not European - and voters have absolutely no interest [or understanding] in the European Parliament.

First Call: UK-South West

This one is early, coming from Conservative sources, Labour has lost its MEP in the South West of England. UKIP are going strong so far

Neo-fascist party, Jobbik, could clinch a seat in European parliament in swing against Hungary's ruling socialists

Guardian.co.uk

German Exit Polls

Telegraph.co.uk

(Hat tip:ConservativeHome)

6.39pm: It looks like Libertas' leader Declan Ganley won't be going to Brussels:

* Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher – FF - 110,000
* Jim Higgins –FG - 108,000
* Marian Harkin –Ind. - 107,000
* Declan Ganley – Libertas -77,000


[edit on 7-6-2009 by infinite]

United Kingdom

BBC North West predicting BNP's Nick Griffin set to become MEP

Fance

Exit Poll:

# UMP 28.5% (Sarkozy's party)
# PS 17.5%
# Verts 14%
# Modem 9%
# FN 7%
# FrontG 6%
# NPA 5%

United Kingdom

BBC

21:42 Election results from North East region: Labour gains 25% of the vote (-95%) Conservatives gain 20% (-1%) Liberal Democrats 18% (nc). One MEP from each party is elected.

20.10: BBC says turnout across Europe is about 43 per cent, the lowest on record.

United Kingdom

BBC Scotland

I will add news from Poland than.

PO (right wing) - around 50%
PIS (right wing) - around 25%
PSL (right wing) - 7 %
SLD (left wing) - 9 %

rest below 1%

reply to post by czacza1

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PO reached 50%

Wow

Is PO a conservative party?