- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: POLITICS - Labour share of vote lowest in a century
- Date: 9th June 2009
- Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 8, 2009) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DARREN WHITE, SAYING: "You know the guy's not really having a good time at the moment, the thing for me is he's a good economist, he knows what he's doing with the economy, so where we are at the moment I think he's the best man for that, but you know he's not going to win any popularity contest is he." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEBBIE MCKASEY, SAYING: "Well actually I'd like him to stay on, because I think if they stay on, and Gordon Brown stay's on at the next election it's a total wipe out. If they get somebody to replace Gordon Brown now they might just have a fighting chance, so I'd rather they went, stayed rather, and hopefully at the next election they'll be gone for good." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SARAH HOLT, SAYING: "Well the biggest shock is the BNP (British National Party) getting in in the north west, I mean that's...I'm just horrified at that. But I don't know what the government should do, I haven't got a clue, I mean they're in dire straits aren't they." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELAINE O'SHAUNESSY, SAYING: "I don't know who would be more qualified, I don't know if David Cameron really as an Eton boy has that much in common with people who are really suffering in the recession."
- Embargoed: 24th June 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAB50EGWRMNDJYU8NG9L16T69AS
- Story Text: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced the prospect of a new challenge to his leadership on Monday (June 8) after support for his ruling Labour Party plunged to its lowest level in a century in European elections.
The slump in Labour votes on what party leaders said was a "dismal" day helped the far-right British National Party win two seats in the European Parliament, the first time it has been represented there.
All three mainstream parties, but particularly Labour, were hit hard by a scandal over abuse of politicians' expenses.
Six cabinet ministers quit before and during a government reshuffle last week by Brown, who faces a tense meeting later on Monday with Labour members of parliament, some of whom have urged him to step down for the sake of the party.
Commentators said he had a desperate political fight ahead after the disastrous European poll showing.
Labour's Business Secretary, Peter Mandelson said he understood why voters were angry with the government, but also pointed out that the other main parties did not get the swing of voters away from Labour that they were expecting.
"Labour voters have not switched on mass to the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats or other parties, in the main what they seem to be doing is registering a protest by withholding their voting and staying at home, now I can understand why they are doing this. They are furious about the MPs expenses and allowances at Westminster, and frankly they are furious too about what they see as disunity amongst Labour MPs at Westminster," Mandelson said.
UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage, at a news conference said at a news conference in London that the election results would make it easier for MPs to get rid of Gordon Brown.
"And I know think that Gordon Brown's humiliation is such that I hope and believe that it's UKIP that has delivered the coup-de-gras, and I've no doubt that collecting back bencher's signatures to get rid of him will now become very much easier indeed," Farage said.
On the streets of London, voters' feelings were mixed after the election results were announced.
"You know the guy's not really having a good time at the moment, the thing for me is he's a good economist, he knows what he's doing with the economy, so where we are at the moment I think he's the best man for that, but you know he's not going to win any popularity contest is he," said Darren White.
While Debbie McKasey said she'd like Gordon Brown to stay on as Prime Minister but only because she thought it would mean Labour would lose the next election.
"If they stay on, and Gordon Brown stays on at the next election it's a total wipe out. If they get somebody to replace Gordon Brown now they might just have a fighting chance, so I'd rather they went, stayed rather, and hopefully at the next election they'll be gone for good," she said.
As she cycled to work, Sarah Holt said she was most horrified that the British National Party (BNP) had won seats in the election.
"Well the biggest shock is the BNP getting in in the north west, I mean that's...I'm just horrified at that. But I don't know what the government should do, I haven't got a clue, I mean they're in dire straits aren't they," Holt said.
The fringe party, which says immigration policies have made white Britons "second class citizens", actually polled fewer votes in the two regions where it won seats than in the last European elections in 2004.
But a collapse in Labour's vote allowed the BNP to gain seats under the proportional voting system used for the election which sends a number of MEPs to Strasbourg from each region.
With Conservative leader David Cameron calling for Gordon Brown to step down and call a general election, Elaine O'Shaunessy said that she thought Cameron was out of touch with the general public.
"I don't know who would be more qualified, I don't know if David Cameron really as an Eton boy has that much in common with people who are really suffering in the recession," she said.
Brown's departure would almost certainly precipitate an early general election which the centre-right Conservatives are expected to win after 12 years in opposition.
With most European election results known, Labour had 15.3 percent of the vote, behind the anti-EU, UK Independence Party on 17.4 percent and more than 13 points behind the Conservatives, who got 28.6 percent. Labour's share of the vote was some seven points down from the European election in 2004. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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