UKIP tops Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin polls
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has hailed his party's first win in a national election, he said it was an "earthquake" in British politics.
Coming a year ahead of the General Election, it is the first time a party other than the Conservatives or Labour has topped a nationwide poll in 108 years.
UKIP polled 428,010 votes across the region gaining three MEPs, Labour was second with 363,033, and the Conservatives third on 330,470, with both parties having two MEPs elected. The Lib Dems came a distant fourth with just 75,648, with sitting MEP Phil Bennion losing his seat.
The West Midlands new MEPs are Jill Seymour (UKIP), Neena Gill (Labour), Philip Bradbourn (Conservative), Jim Carver (UKIP), Sion Simon (Labour), Anthea McIntyre (Conservative) and Bill Etheridge (UKIP).
Lead UKIP candidate Jill Seymour, a parish councillor in Kynnersley near Telford, was the first to be elected saying: "I'd like to thank all the UKIP supporters, our foot soldiers, and the voters who see Ukip as a refreshing change in today's political establishment.
"Today's momentous result marks a turning point in our political history. Quite simply the British public are fed up with the same old rhetoric."
One of the big stories of the night was MEP Nikki Sinclaire, who conceded defeat just before 10pm, before the West Midlands results were announced.
Nikki Sinclaire, whose We Demand A Referendum Party polled 23,426 votes, said: "It has been an honour and a pleasure to represent 5.2 million constituents over the past five years. I have met thousands of people in my role, getting involved in community projects and giving a voice to the voiceless, and lending an ear when others simply wouldn't listen."
Ballots cast by voters in the Shropshire Council area:
- An Independence From Europe (1,143)
- British National Party (828)
- Conservative Party (24,920)
- English Democrats (498)
- Green Party (5,546)
- Harmony Party (64)
- Labour Party (11,185)
- Liberal Democrats (6,697)
- NO2EU (164)
- UK Independence Party (UKIP) 25,759)
- We Demand a Referendum Now (1,269)
Ballots cast by voters in the Telford & Wrekin Council area:
- An Independence From Europe (736)
- British National Party (700)
- Conservative Party (10,452
- English Democrats (472)
- Green Party (1,741)
- Harmony Party (81)
- Labour Party (10,631)
- Liberal Democrats (1,608)
- NO2EU (114)
- UK Independence Party (UKIP) (15,417)
- We Demand a Referendum Now (680)
