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Parties in final Euro poll push Parties in final Euro poll push
(about 19 hours later)
Britain's political parties are gearing up for the final few days of campaigning ahead of Thursday's local and European elections.Britain's political parties are gearing up for the final few days of campaigning ahead of Thursday's local and European elections.
Opinion polls suggest Labour could be heading for its worst showing in decades in a national election.Opinion polls suggest Labour could be heading for its worst showing in decades in a national election.
But Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would reject any moves from within his cabinet to encourage him to stand down.But Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would reject any moves from within his cabinet to encourage him to stand down.
Smaller parties look set to benefit from anger over MPs expenses, with the Greens and UKIP both hoping to do well.Smaller parties look set to benefit from anger over MPs expenses, with the Greens and UKIP both hoping to do well.
An ICM survey for the Sunday Telegraph put Labour party in third place for the first time since 1987 on just 22% - three points adrift of the Lib Dems and 18 behind the Conservatives.An ICM survey for the Sunday Telegraph put Labour party in third place for the first time since 1987 on just 22% - three points adrift of the Lib Dems and 18 behind the Conservatives.
It came close on the heels of another survey which suggested Labour could be overtaken by the UK Independence Party (UKIP) as it bears the brunt of public fury.It came close on the heels of another survey which suggested Labour could be overtaken by the UK Independence Party (UKIP) as it bears the brunt of public fury.
'Anything possible''Anything possible'
But the ICM survey puts the Greens ahead of UKIP for the first time in the current campaign.But the ICM survey puts the Greens ahead of UKIP for the first time in the current campaign.
The poll, for the Sunday Telegraph, put the Greens on 11% and UKIP on 10%, about 7 points down on its showing in earlier polls.The poll, for the Sunday Telegraph, put the Greens on 11% and UKIP on 10%, about 7 points down on its showing in earlier polls.
The British National National Party was on 5% according to the survey.The British National National Party was on 5% according to the survey.
A lot of people have not yet made up their minds for the European elections Glenis Willmott, leader of Labour's MEPs Politics Show election guideA lot of people have not yet made up their minds for the European elections Glenis Willmott, leader of Labour's MEPs Politics Show election guide
If repeated at Thursday's ballot that would see the Greens more than double their current number of MEPs.If repeated at Thursday's ballot that would see the Greens more than double their current number of MEPs.
But Green Party leader Caroline Lucas told BBC One's Politics show she did not want voters to think of the party purely as a protest vote.But Green Party leader Caroline Lucas told BBC One's Politics show she did not want voters to think of the party purely as a protest vote.
"I want them to think about the track record of the two Green MEPs that have been their for the past 10 years. "I want them to think about the track record of the two Green MEPs that have been there for the past 10 years.
"What we have delivered is higher environmental standards. We have also been the ones who have been standing up for workers," she said."What we have delivered is higher environmental standards. We have also been the ones who have been standing up for workers," she said.
She said it would a "disappointment" if the Greens failed to increase their MEPs, but added: "With this electoral system anything is possible."She said it would a "disappointment" if the Greens failed to increase their MEPs, but added: "With this electoral system anything is possible."
Labour's leader in the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott told the Politics Show said it would be "difficult" for all parties on Thursday, in the light of public anger at the expenses scandal, and the polls were "all over the place".Labour's leader in the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott told the Politics Show said it would be "difficult" for all parties on Thursday, in the light of public anger at the expenses scandal, and the polls were "all over the place".
"Sometimes we are going up, sometimes we are going down... a lot of people have not yet made up their minds for the European elections," she added."Sometimes we are going up, sometimes we are going down... a lot of people have not yet made up their minds for the European elections," she added.
ReformReform
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has meanwhile clashed with Declan Ganley, founder of Libertas, a new pan-European party campaigning for widespread democratic reform of the EU.UKIP leader Nigel Farage has meanwhile clashed with Declan Ganley, founder of Libertas, a new pan-European party campaigning for widespread democratic reform of the EU.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Ganley said UKIP and the other British parties had "talked a good game" on Europe but had not delivered reform.Speaking to Sky News, Mr Ganley said UKIP and the other British parties had "talked a good game" on Europe but had not delivered reform.
Mr Farage, who has said his aim is to "topple" Gordon Brown by beating Labour into fourth place, said his party had "led the argument" for British withdrawal from the EU and exposed corruption in European institutions.Mr Farage, who has said his aim is to "topple" Gordon Brown by beating Labour into fourth place, said his party had "led the argument" for British withdrawal from the EU and exposed corruption in European institutions.
Tory leader David Cameron also launched an attack on UKIP claiming the party "voted to allow Spanish vessels to fish in British waters" - something firmly denied by UKIP which called his criticisms "desperate".Tory leader David Cameron also launched an attack on UKIP claiming the party "voted to allow Spanish vessels to fish in British waters" - something firmly denied by UKIP which called his criticisms "desperate".
Mr Cameron, whose party stands to lose votes to UKIP on Thursday, is urging voters to use the poll to step up pressure on Gordon Brown to call an election.Mr Cameron, whose party stands to lose votes to UKIP on Thursday, is urging voters to use the poll to step up pressure on Gordon Brown to call an election.
Mr Brown has, meanwhile, told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme that he would refuse to move aside even if senior Labour figures told him it would help the party retain seats as a general election, arguing that his focus was on tackling the recession and pushing through a programme of constitutional reform.Mr Brown has, meanwhile, told BBC One's Andrew Marr programme that he would refuse to move aside even if senior Labour figures told him it would help the party retain seats as a general election, arguing that his focus was on tackling the recession and pushing through a programme of constitutional reform.
Asked whether he would stand aside if cabinet members said it would help Labour's chances at a general election, Mr Brown replied: "No, because I am dealing with the issues at hand. I am dealing with the economy every day."Asked whether he would stand aside if cabinet members said it would help Labour's chances at a general election, Mr Brown replied: "No, because I am dealing with the issues at hand. I am dealing with the economy every day."