My own vote failed to save the East's veteran Lib Dem MEP. Looks very much like the Scots will have a UKIP MEP sadly.
Re Newark, I'd say that points to a clear Tory hold to be honest, UKIP always have a sizeable body of Tory vote-switchers for the Europeans so I'd be shocked if they could hold onto those voters at the by-election (though it's not impossible).
Finally, an interesting fact - this is the first time the Conservatives have come third in a national UK election. And I don't mean first time since WWII, or first time since 1900. It has literally never happened before, ever. The only other time they've come even with ten percent of doing so was, if I'm right, the 1923 general election.
I'll also repost my slightly gloomy FB status about the election:
So, the European elections. I am not, in myself, terrified - not quite yet. But I am saddened, and I am unsettled, both at the results in Britain and more so at those across Europe. I am saddened because I believe that, whatever you may think of the structures of European governance, we are stronger in brotherhood and sisterhood than immersed in isolation and vanity. Saddened, too, at the fact that my country is now predominantly represented by two parties in favour of kicking the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society into the gutter. But worst of all, I am unsettled that in fear and anger the peoples of Europe are in many countries seeing their salvation posing with flags and banners - and a nationalism of a sort we have not seen growing strong for many years. This is not a nationalism that celebrates our achievements - it is one which celebrates only our differences, that "we" are not "them" and "they" are not "us". It is the nationalism of blind pride, at a time when Europe may just be beginning to forget where that can lead. It is the nationalism of darker times - and tomorrow, Europe will see day dawn just a little darker.
I genuinely mean all that. I think the rise of nationalists and ultra-nationalists is very disturbing, but if anything gives us a new reason to be inside the EU - because as we know these are European-wide phenomena and if we shut ourselves off from them there is no way we will somehow gain immunity via the English Channel.
