Coming after our successful performance in the local elections, we are pleased with the results in the European elections.  We won as many votes as Labour and the Liberal Democrats put together.  We're the only party with an MEP in every region of the UK.  We came first, increased our vote share and we're thirteen per cent ahead of Labour.  We performed well right across the country, topping the polls in every English region apart from the North East, and beating Labour in Wales for the first time ever.

The Conservative campaign
We fought a positive campaign.  Trust in politics is at an all-time low.  So we've fought to restore it by trying to get politicians to honour their promises and give people a real say.  That is why the promised referendum on the renamed EU Constitution was at the heart of our European election campaign.

It's clear that people want a say - the parties which went back on their promise of a referendum - Labour and the Lib Dems - won less than half the vote.

Labour's performance
These results are a disaster for Gordon Brown and the Labour Party.  This is their worst election performance since the war.  In the local elections and the European elections, the people have delivered their verdict on Labour.  Now we need a general election so that the country gets the change it needs.

The Lib Dem performance
It's clear that the Liberal Democrats' position on Europe is not resonating with voters.  And no wonder, when they have reneged on their promise to support a referendum on the renamed European Constitution, voted to abolish Britain's rebate from the EU, and want to scrap the pound and join the euro. 

UKIP
Because of the electoral system used in European elections, a lot of people use their votes to send a message.  Despite that, and despite a perfect background for their party's campaign, UKIP have failed to make a real breakthrough.  The local and European election results show that in a general election, the real choice is between Labour and the Conservatives.

The BNP
We deplore the election of BNP Members of the European Parliament.  The BNP thrives on hatred and division in our communities and their platform would be extremely destructive for Britain.  There were no BNP councillors in 1997 when Labour entered office.  Where the BNP gained MEPs, our vote held up while Labour's vote collapsed. 

Minor parties
Traditionally, European elections disproportionately favour minor parties. Possibly encouraged by a more proportionate voting system, voters have tended to protest against the incumbent government by voting for minor parties rather then mainstream opposition parties. For example:

·       In 2004, UKIP gained 16.2 per cent of the vote
·       In 1999, UKIP gained 7 per cent of the vote and the Greens 6.2 per cent
·       In 1989, the Greens gained 14.5 per cent of the vote

None of these results were reflected in the subsequent general elections.