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| Tories top European poll in Wales | Tories top European poll in Wales |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Welsh Labour has suffered an historically bad result in the European elections, with the Conservatives topping the poll. | Welsh Labour has suffered an historically bad result in the European elections, with the Conservatives topping the poll. |
| It is the first time since 1922 that Labour has not come first in a Welsh election. | It is the first time since 1922 that Labour has not come first in a Welsh election. |
| The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) also won its first Welsh seat. | The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) also won its first Welsh seat. |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain called the outcome "very bad" and said Labour fell victim to "real anger" over expenses. | First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain called the outcome "very bad" and said Labour fell victim to "real anger" over expenses. |
| 2009 EURO ELECTION - WALES Conservative: 145,193 (21%)Labour: 138,852 (20%)Plaid Cymru: 126,702 (19%)UKIP: 87,585 (13%)Lib Dems: 73,082 (11%)Greens: 38,160 (6%)BNP: 37,114 (5%)Christian Party: 13,037Socialist Labour Party: 12,402No2EU Yes to Democracy: 8,600Jury Team: 3,793 | |
| This result means Labour, Conservatives, Plaid and UKIP have one seat each. | This result means Labour, Conservatives, Plaid and UKIP have one seat each. |
| Labour won two of the four seats in 2004, when Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives each won one. | |
| Before the results were officially declared, Labour's top two figures in Wales said Labour, as the party in power, had "caught the brunt of the public's anger". | Before the results were officially declared, Labour's top two figures in Wales said Labour, as the party in power, had "caught the brunt of the public's anger". |
| "This is a toxic combination when taken with the economic recession," they said in a joint statement. | "This is a toxic combination when taken with the economic recession," they said in a joint statement. |
| "Low turnout has further reduced the Labour vote. "Above all, we have got to listen to the message that the public is so clearly giving us. | |
| "It is vital that Labour remains united and begins rebuilding trust. | "It is vital that Labour remains united and begins rebuilding trust. |
| "Our task is to clearly convey the choice that Wales now faces: between a Labour government that believes in Welsh people and helps during hard times, and the very real danger of a government led by David Cameron that would savagely cut public services. | "Our task is to clearly convey the choice that Wales now faces: between a Labour government that believes in Welsh people and helps during hard times, and the very real danger of a government led by David Cameron that would savagely cut public services. |
| "We congratulate Derek Vaughan on his election as an MEP. He will be a strong voice for Welsh people in Europe." | "We congratulate Derek Vaughan on his election as an MEP. He will be a strong voice for Welsh people in Europe." |
| 'Turn things around' | |
| Earlier, retiring MEP and new Europe Minister Glenys Kinnock called it "a bad night for us". | Earlier, retiring MEP and new Europe Minister Glenys Kinnock called it "a bad night for us". |
| But she told the BBC: "We did very badly in the 2004 European election but then we went on to win the general election the following year. | But she told the BBC: "We did very badly in the 2004 European election but then we went on to win the general election the following year. |
| "If we go head to head with the Tories I still think we can turn things around." | "If we go head to head with the Tories I still think we can turn things around." |
| Mrs Kinnock said she was surprised to have been made a minister in Gordon Brown's reshuffle on Friday. | Mrs Kinnock said she was surprised to have been made a minister in Gordon Brown's reshuffle on Friday. |
| WELSH PARTIES' PERFORMANCES IN PAST EUROPEAN ELECTIONS Lab: best - 1994 (56%, 5 MEPs); worst - 1999 (32%, 2 MEPs)Con: best - 1979 (36%, 1 MEP); worst - 1994 (14%, 0 MEPs)Plaid: best - 1999 (29%, 2 MEPs); worst - 1979 (11%, 0 MEPs)Lib D: best - 1984 (17.4%, 0 MEPs); worst - 1989 (3.2%, 0 MEPs) | WELSH PARTIES' PERFORMANCES IN PAST EUROPEAN ELECTIONS Lab: best - 1994 (56%, 5 MEPs); worst - 1999 (32%, 2 MEPs)Con: best - 1979 (36%, 1 MEP); worst - 1994 (14%, 0 MEPs)Plaid: best - 1999 (29%, 2 MEPs); worst - 1979 (11%, 0 MEPs)Lib D: best - 1984 (17.4%, 0 MEPs); worst - 1989 (3.2%, 0 MEPs) |
| But, asked about predecessor Caroline Flint's parting criticism of the prime minister, she denied that she had been brought in as "window dressing". | But, asked about predecessor Caroline Flint's parting criticism of the prime minister, she denied that she had been brought in as "window dressing". |
| She said she would not have a place in Cabinet in her new role and it was not something she was "bothered about". | She said she would not have a place in Cabinet in her new role and it was not something she was "bothered about". |
| She said she was honoured to have been given the job and wanted to get down to communicating the importance of Europe to the UK. | She said she was honoured to have been given the job and wanted to get down to communicating the importance of Europe to the UK. |
| In 2004 Welsh Labour won 32.5% of the vote, Conservatives 19.4%, Plaid Cymru 17.4%, UKIP and the Liberal Democrats 10.5% each, Greens 3.6%, and BNP 3%. There was a turnout of 41.9%. | In 2004 Welsh Labour won 32.5% of the vote, Conservatives 19.4%, Plaid Cymru 17.4%, UKIP and the Liberal Democrats 10.5% each, Greens 3.6%, and BNP 3%. There was a turnout of 41.9%. |