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Farage hails 'extraordinary' UKIP win in European election Farage hails 'extraordinary' UKIP win in European election
(about 3 hours later)
Nigel Farage has said his "dream has become a reality" and UKIP is now the "third force" in British politics after it topped the European polls.Nigel Farage has said his "dream has become a reality" and UKIP is now the "third force" in British politics after it topped the European polls.
With only Scotland left to declare, UKIP has 27.5% of the vote and 23 MEPs. With Scotland and Northern Ireland left to declare, UKIP has 27.5% of the vote.
Labour, on 25%, is narrowly beating the Tories into second place while the Lib Dems lost all but one of their seats and came behind the Greens.Labour, on 25%, is narrowly beating the Tories into second place while the Lib Dems lost all but one of their seats and came behind the Greens.
David Cameron said the public was "disillusioned" with the EU and their message was "received and understood".David Cameron said the public was "disillusioned" with the EU and their message was "received and understood".
The full Scottish result will be known at noon on Monday, as the Western Isles does not count votes on a Sunday. Ed Miliband said the outcome was about more than Europe and his party must respond to a "desire for change" over a wide range of issues.
The BBC is predicting that the result in Scotland will be SNP on two seats, Labour on two seats and the Conservatives and UKIP with one seat each - meaning Mr Farage's anti-EU party is expected to win at least one seat in every part of Great Britain. The full Scottish result will be known at noon on Monday because the Western Isles does not count votes on a Sunday. Counting in Northern Ireland begins later.
It will be the first time a national election has not been won by the Conservatives or Labour in 100 years - and the first time a party with no MPs at Westminster has achieved such a result.It will be the first time a national election has not been won by the Conservatives or Labour in 100 years - and the first time a party with no MPs at Westminster has achieved such a result.
Counting in Northern Ireland begins later on Monday. Other election highlights so far are:
In his victory speech at the South East of England count, UKIP leader Mr Farage said: "The people's army of UKIP have spoken tonight and have delivered just about the most extraordinary result in British politics for 100 years."In his victory speech at the South East of England count, UKIP leader Mr Farage said: "The people's army of UKIP have spoken tonight and have delivered just about the most extraordinary result in British politics for 100 years."
He said the three main parties in Britain had led the country into the Common Market but had "twisted and turned" over an in/out referendum on EU membership.He said the three main parties in Britain had led the country into the Common Market but had "twisted and turned" over an in/out referendum on EU membership.
"The penny's really dropped that as members of this union we cannot run our own country and crucially, we cannot control our own borders," said the UKIP leader."The penny's really dropped that as members of this union we cannot run our own country and crucially, we cannot control our own borders," said the UKIP leader.
He later told the BBC that he was "over the moon" about his party's performance and he was more confident than ever that it would make a breakthrough at Westminster next year.He later told the BBC that he was "over the moon" about his party's performance and he was more confident than ever that it would make a breakthrough at Westminster next year.
The result had "serious consequences" for the three main party leaders and he believed Nick Clegg's position as Lib Dem leader was now "untenable".The result had "serious consequences" for the three main party leaders and he believed Nick Clegg's position as Lib Dem leader was now "untenable".
Mr Clegg faced calls to stand down ahead of Sunday night's results - something firmly rejected by senior party figures. Mr Clegg faced calls to stand down ahead of Sunday night's results - something firmly rejected by senior party figures - but the BBC's Norman Smith said he expected pressure on the Lib Dem leader to increase.
A member of the party's federal executive, Martin Tod, reiterated his call for Mr Clegg to quit because voters were "not prepared" to listen to him.A member of the party's federal executive, Martin Tod, reiterated his call for Mr Clegg to quit because voters were "not prepared" to listen to him.
He said any new leader should "prove themselves in a democratic party election".He said any new leader should "prove themselves in a democratic party election".
Mr Tod, a councillor in Winchester, branded his party's results in the European elections a "disaster" and the party's response "complacent".Mr Tod, a councillor in Winchester, branded his party's results in the European elections a "disaster" and the party's response "complacent".
But Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander, who has been touted as a future leader himself, insisted Mr Clegg was "by far the best spokesman" for the Lib Dems and said "plunging the party into a period of introspection" was not the right response to the results.But Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander, who has been touted as a future leader himself, insisted Mr Clegg was "by far the best spokesman" for the Lib Dems and said "plunging the party into a period of introspection" was not the right response to the results.
Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps said the results were acting as "a command for Britain to get a better deal" in Europe - but he rejected calls by Tory grandee David Davis to bring forward the in/out EU referendum to 2016, saying negotiations on this could not be rushed. The prime minister has said the results vindicate his call for change in the EU but has rejected calls by Tory grandee David Davis to bring forward the in/out EU referendum to 2016.
The Tory leadership faced further calls for an electoral pact with UKIP to avoid a split in the right of British politics at next year's general election.The Tory leadership faced further calls for an electoral pact with UKIP to avoid a split in the right of British politics at next year's general election.
Daniel Hannan, who was returned as a Tory MEP in the South East region, said: "It would be very sad if the two right-of-centre Eurosceptic parties at the general election were not able to find some way, at least in marginal seats, of reaching an accommodation so that anti-referendum candidates don't get in with a minority of votes." Daniel Hannan, who was returned as a Tory MEP in the South East region, said it would be "sad" if the two parties "were not able to find some way, at least in marginal seats, of reaching an accommodation so that anti-referendum candidates don't get in with a minority of votes".
Grant Shapps has repeatedly ruled out any formal pact or local deals with UKIP. But Mr Cameron said it was a "myth" that the two parties had a shared agenda.
Labour was looking at one stage as if it might be beaten into third place by the Tories - a potentially disastrous result for Ed Miliband as he seeks to show he can win next year's general election.Labour was looking at one stage as if it might be beaten into third place by the Tories - a potentially disastrous result for Ed Miliband as he seeks to show he can win next year's general election.
But the party was rescued by another strong showing in London - and it took heart from local election results in battleground seats, which party spokesmen suggested were a better guide to general election performance.But the party was rescued by another strong showing in London - and it took heart from local election results in battleground seats, which party spokesmen suggested were a better guide to general election performance.
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said UKIP had tapped into people's disaffection with politics. Mr Miliband said the party was "making progress" but had "further to go" if it was to prevail in next year's general election.
She told BBC people have said they are voting UKIP, even if they are a Labour supporter, because, they said: "I think you need a shake-up."
BNP leader Nick Griffin lost his seat and saw his party's vote collapse by 6% in the North-West of England.BNP leader Nick Griffin lost his seat and saw his party's vote collapse by 6% in the North-West of England.
The BNP has seen a similar slump in support across the UK and seems certain to have no representation in the next European Parliament. Anti-EU parties from the left and right have gained significant numbers of MEPs across all 28 member states in the wake of the eurozone crisis and severe financial squeeze.
Across the channel, the far right anti-EU National Front has topped the poll in France, according to exit polls. However, pro-EU parties will still hold the majority in parliament.
Anti-EU parties from the left and right are expected to gain significant numbers of MEPs across all 28 member states in the wake of the eurozone crisis and severe financial squeeze.
But pro-EU parties are still expected to hold the majority in parliament.
Turnout across the EU is up slightly at 43.1%, according to estimates. Turnout in the UK was 33.8%, down slightly on last time.Turnout across the EU is up slightly at 43.1%, according to estimates. Turnout in the UK was 33.8%, down slightly on last time.
In the European elections five years ago, the Conservatives got 27.7% of the total vote, ahead of UKIP on 16.5%, Labour on 15.7%, the Lib Dems on 13.7%, the Green Party on 8.6% and the BNP on 6.2%.In the European elections five years ago, the Conservatives got 27.7% of the total vote, ahead of UKIP on 16.5%, Labour on 15.7%, the Lib Dems on 13.7%, the Green Party on 8.6% and the BNP on 6.2%.