Surprises await us all in the European Parliament election
![[Image: BBC]](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/140523ballotbox.jpg)
[Image: BBC]
For a start, MEPs are elected on a system of proportional representation, meaning it is the percentage of votes cast in a particular region that determine who will represent it; it isn’t a straightforward race for the most.
Also, all regions of the UK are taking part in this poll – but many people are unlikely to have used their vote, due to disillusion with British democracy. This makes it hard to judge whether the results will have any bearing on next year’s UK general election.
Since it is a proportional representation election, the UKIP effect is likely to be far greater than it was in the local elections. UKIP picked up 17 per cent of the votes in the locals, and a similar performance in the Euro-poll will put it half a percentage point up on 2009, when 13 ‘Kippers were returned to Brussels.
Conversely Labour, which bagged more than half of all the council seats up for election, is likely to be far less successful in Europe.
It will be interesting to see how the media – particularly the BBC, which will be reporting the results as they come in – react. Thursday’s coverage of the local poll was appallingly misleading. For example, Labour was said to have performed very badly when it easily hit the target commentators said it needed to attain, in order to pose a credible challenge for the Conservatives next year.
Coverage of the count starts at 11pm on BBC1.
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“Coverage of the count starts at 11pm on BBC2.”
Also from 10pm on BBC Radio 4
I think the Lib Dems will still do badly even with PR.
I’ve voted as I see it as my duty to do so – if I don’t vote then I can’t complain and that’s what these people who don’t vote should remember.
As for the results, I’m not staying up checking on the internet about it all, I’ll probably see it announced everywhere the next day.
It will probably be a load of tripe as everything will be pointing to how well Ukip have done? and not on how well Labour have done.
Now all we need to do is get Milliband to get his erse into gear and start the fight!
Reblogged this on Jay's Journal and commented:
Its the EU elections – It’s the EU – who cares ‘cos I don’t…
It’s no coincidence tha Aunty (bbc) tow’s the party line, regardless of who is flavor of the moment when in charter negotiations (2016) Or am I becoming a little bit more cynical as I get older?
Reblogged this on Beastrabban’s Weblog.
Just seen the early results and noticed how the Greens get barely a mention, even though they are pushing the Lib Dems back into fifth place.
It seems to me that, if we really are entering an era of four-party politics, the Greens should be that fourth party, not the Tory Dems.
Bye bye Lib Dems (except for 1 who scraped through.) Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Mike what I don’t understand is why isn’t Labour et al mentioning Welfare Cuts, when asked why do you think UKIP is doing so well it is always the same “immigration” I do not think it is the only reason I think the Welfare Cuts are a major concern as well but it is never mentioned WHY do you think that is? are all parties so out of touch, do they not visit social media sites or blogs. I am getting more and more disillusioned and I am sick and tired of the bias reporting by the BBC.