TURNER PRIZE LATE succaleis оrdz01 bat The cost of The European elections were the first serious challenge to Labour leader Tony Blair. Progressive nationalist forces continued to gain ground in Wales and Scotland. But outside Scotland, the far left is still divided Veronica Fagan Participation is always low in European Parliament elections, but Britain's 23% participation rate is a record low. Abysmally low participation in the recent local elections suggests a long term decline in British electoral participation.
According to Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan, only 10% of voters in traditional labour districts participated in these elections, compared to 30% of voters in richer and more conservative districts.
These were the first British elections using proportional representation. This probably helped the opposition Conservatives gain seats in Scotland and Wales. But in England (90% of the British population) Labour would have done even worse under the previous single member ("First Past the Post") system.
The Conservatives won 37.5%. The ruling Labour Party attracted 28%.
Voting patterns reinforced the "Eurosceptic" current within the Conservatives, as well as the fanatical anti-EU "United Kingdom Independence Party" Pro-EU Conservatives did badly, and are likely to keep a low profile in the coming months.
Labour spokeswoman Margaret 6 International Viewpoint #314 September 1999
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MOODOO! disunity Beckett protested that this election was not about the single currency, even (falsely) claiming that the European Parliament has no jurisdiction in this regard.