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Euro seat for BNP
A BNP Euro MP has been elected in Yorkshire and Humber - after voters turned to the far-right party and it polled strongly in Labour strongholds in South Yorkshire.
The party achieved 16 per cent of the vote in Barnsley, 15 per cent in Rotherham and nearly 12 per cent in Doncaster - all Labour strongholds.
British National Party candidate Andrew Brons was one of six MEPs elected for Yorkshire and Humber after the party received 20,139 votes - a 9.8 per cent share of the vote overall.
But in Sheffield Labour did not receive the trouncing at the polls which had been widely predicted.
Labour's Linda McAvan was elected as an MEP as Labour received 230,009 votes - an 18.76 per cent share of the vote.
Edward McMillan-Scott won a seat in the European Parliament for the Tories after the Conservative Party won 299,802 votes - a 24.45 per cent share.
Labour topped the Euro vote in Sheffield with 29,143 votes, nearly 5,000 ahead of the Liberal Democrats, who were more than 6,000 ahead of UKIP. The Conservatives were fourth.
Paul Wood, chairman of the Labour Party in Sheffield, said Labour voters who stayed away from the polls would be "horrified" to see a BNP MEP elected.
He said: "Whatever Labour's difficulties nationally at the moment, this result clearly demonstrated there is absolutely no appetite among Sheffield people for Cameron's Conservatives. To be beaten into fourth place in Sheffield by UKIP must be a considerable blow to them.
"The result was also a slap in the face for Nick Clegg's claims for Lib Dem dominance in Sheffield.
"I know that many of our traditional voters didn't come out to vote in this election, which was reflected in our vote share. They told us this reflected their anger and frustration about recent events in Parliament.
"However, I think that most of them will be absolutely horrified when they wake up to find that, by not going out to vote, they had let in a BNP MEP regionally."
The results come as South Yorkshire MPs voiced their support for embattled Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Sheffield Brightside MP David Blunkett said: "If there was ever a moment for steady hearts and clear heads, this is it. Decisions must not be taken on a rollercoaster, with this drip-drip of deeply damaging action.
"The most senior members of the Cabinet must make their support for the Prime Minister unequivocally clear if the draining away of political lifeblood is not to become unstoppable.
"I am giving my loyalty to Gordon Brown."
Rother Valley MP Kevin Barron said: "There has been too much self-indulgence. The big picture for the people of Rother Valley is to get the economy right.
"MPs should be sorting out the mess we have got ourselves in with our expenses rather than changing government."
Barnsley Central MP Eric Illsley warned Labour risks returning to the lows of the early 1980s when in-fighting made it unelectable.
He said: "I am sad the party is in turmoil and that some of my colleagues are more interested in their own wellbeing and careers than the wellbeing of the Government itself."
Rotherham MP Denis MacShane added: "To force a change in leader now would mean going into an immediate general election which would be fought on the issue of MPs' expenses and would not serve parliamentary democracy.I regret the resignations, which I think shows a lack of teamwork. These ministers owe their nomination to Gordon Brown."
- Turnout for the region was 32.51 per cent.
- The total number and percentage of votes by party were as follows:
British National Party - 120,139 votes - 9.80 per cent share
Christian Party - 16,742 votes - 1.37 per cent share
Conservative Party - 299,802 votes - 24.45 per cent share
English Democrats Party - 31,287 votes - 2.55 per cent share
Jury Team - 7,181 votes - 0.58 per cent share
Liberal Democrats - 161,552 votes - 13.18 per cent share
No2EU: Yes to Democracy - 15,614 votes - 1.27 per cent share
Pro Democracy: Libertas.eu - 6,268 votes - 0.51 per cent share
Socialist Labour Party - 19,380 votes - 1.58 per cent share
The Green Party - 104,456 votes - 8.52 per cent share
The Labour Party - 230,009 votes - 18.76 per cent share
United Kingdom Independence Party - 213,750 - 17.43 per cent share
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Latest sport The big picture for the people of Rother Valley is to get the economy right.
“MPs should be sorting out the mess we have got ourselves in with our expenses rather than changing government.”
Barnsley Central MP Eric Illsley warned Labour risks returning to the lows of the early 1980s when in-fighting made it unelectable.
He said: “I am sad the party is in turmoil and that some of my colleagues are more interested in their own wellbeing and careers than the wellbeing of the Government itself.”
Rotherham MP Denis MacShane added: “To force a change in leader now would mean going into an immediate general election which would be fought on the issue of MPs’ expenses and would not serve parliamentary democracy.
“I regret the resignations, which I think shows a lack of teamwork. These ministers owe their nomination to Gordon Brown and it is sheer self-indulgence to let him down now.”
Turnout for the region was 32.51 per cent.
The total number and percentage of votes by party were as follows:
British National Party - 120,139 votes - 9.80 per cent share
Christian Party - 16,742 votes - 1.37 per cent share
Conservative Party - 299,802 votes - 24.45 per cent share
English Democrats Party - 31,287 votes - 2.55 per cent share
Jury Team - 7,181 votes - 0.58 per cent share
Liberal Democrats - 161,552 votes - 13.18 per cent share
No2EU: Yes to Democracy - 15,614 votes - 1.27 per cent share
Pro Democracy: Libertas.eu - 6,268 votes - 0.51 per cent share
Socialist Labour Party - 19,380 votes - 1.58 per cent share
The Green Party - 104,456 votes - 8.52 per cent share
The Labour Party - 230,009 votes - 18.76 per cent share
United Kingdom Independence Party - 213,750 - 17.43 per cent share
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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