EU elections: Brexit party and Lib Dems celebrate as Tories and Labour crushed

A strong Brexit party and a revival of the Liberal Democrats crushed the Tory and the Labour parties at the European elections which poses a new threat to the Conservative government and the Brexit negotiations.

Nigel Farage’s Brexit party that campaigned for a no-deal exit from the EU beat the Conservatives in their rural heartlands but also made gains in large cities such as Cardiff, Leeds and Sheffield.

Former Foreign Secretary and likely candidate to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister Boris Johnson, blamed the government’s handling of Brexit for the defeat of the Conservative party.

The night was also a breath of fresh air for the Lib Dems, who ended up in second place with 15 seats, just behind the Brexit party with 28 seats.

And there was a significant boost for the Green party, a pattern seen across Europe. Molly Scott-Cato, the Green MEP re-elected in the South West, said it was a “thrilling night” for greens across EU member states.

Labour held 10, having lost seven so far, the Green party won seven, a gain of four, and the Tories were languishing in fifth place, with just three seats.

The results so far show that the hard Brexit vote totalled 34.9% – with the Brexit party on 31.6% and Ukip on 3.3%. The total for pro-leave parties was up at 44%.

The pro-remain vote added up to 40.3% with the Lib Dems on 20.3%, the Greens on 12.1%, the SNP on 3.5%, Change UK on 3.4% and Plaid Cymru on 1%.

The result of the elections could force Labour to change strategy. Leader Jeremy Corbyn called for fresh elections to have the people decide on what the future should hold for the UK and shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, said Labour must radically readdress its Brexit policy and campaign for a second referendum.

The terrible results for the Tories come at a time when PM Theresa May just announced her leave and the already divided party faces a challenge trying to find the next leader which will likely be Boris Johnson.

The result could also force the Conservative party to take a harder stance on Brexit if pressured by Nigel Farage’s Brexit party. Johnson already stated that the UK would be leaving the EU on 31 October with a deal or without one.

“Never before in British politics has a new party launched just six weeks ago topped the polls in a national election,” Farage said.

“There’s a huge message here, massive message here. The Labour and Conservative parties could learn a big lesson from tonight, though I don’t suppose that they actually will,” he gloated.