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Party leaders to set out response to UKIP election win Cameron urges EU leaders to listen to voters' concerns
(about 1 hour later)
Party leaders are due to set out their response to the UK Independence Party's victory in the European elections. David Cameron has told other EU leaders that it cannot be "business as usual" after anti-EU parties made sweeping electoral gains across Europe.
Prime Minister David Cameron will travel to Brussels for an informal dinner with other EU leaders where the election results will be discussed. He spoke to French President Francois Hollande and Polish leader Donald Tusk ahead of an informal dinner later.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband will set out his approach to rebuilding trust in politics in a speech in Essex. No 10 said the prime minister emphasised the need for them to "heed" voters' message and embrace reform.
Senior Liberal Democrat Vince Cable said "there is no leadership issue" after calls for Nick Clegg to resign. Nick Clegg has said he is not opposed to the principle of a referendum and was "not afraid" of the idea.
Party leaders are setting out their response to the UK Independence Party's victory in the European elections.
'Standing up to UKIP'
Labour leader Ed Miliband will set out his approach to rebuilding trust in politics in a speech in Essex.
He has been urged by former prime minister Tony Blair to "stand up" to UKIP on the issues on Europe and immigration and resist calls for a referendum.
Mr Clegg remains under pressure after his party lost all but one of its 12 MEPs.
Speaking during a visit to a youth centre in Westminster, the Lib Dem leader said he would not stand down and the party would not quit the coalition at a time the Lib Dems were being "vindicated" on the economy and other issues.
He acknowledged his party had suffered a big setback in the European polls but said it had "stuck to its values" and were the only party putting the case for an internationalist UK in the EY.
Mr Clegg said he had long supported the principle of a referendum although his party opposes Conservatives' calls for one in 2017 and said it should only be triggered if further powers went from the UK to the EU.
"I personally would relish the opportunity to have this debate out in the country in a referendum," he said.
"The Lib Dems are not afraid, in any way, of a referendum. We have been advocating that for a long time."
He suggested the Conservatives' proposal was "an exercise in internal party management".
"We are in favour of reform. We are in favour of a referendum. But we are also in favour of saying unambiguously that we should be an internationalist country."
Mr Cameron will travel to Brussels for an informal dinner with other EU leaders where the election results will be discussed.
Following the elections, Mr Cameron has pushed the case for changes in the relationship between Brussels and EU member states in a series of phone calls to other heads of government.Following the elections, Mr Cameron has pushed the case for changes in the relationship between Brussels and EU member states in a series of phone calls to other heads of government.
Meanwhile, two Labour former cabinet ministers have warned Mr Miliband against any "knee-jerk" reaction on immigration
Seize initiativeSeize initiative
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says Mr Cameron will attempt to seize the initiative following the Conservatives' first-ever third place in the European elections. BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Cameron would attempt to seize the initiative following the Conservatives' first-ever third place in the European elections.
The prime minister telephoned fellow EU leaders, including Germany's Angela Merkel, ahead of Tuesday evening's meeting in Brussels to emphasise that the results of the European elections, and the low turnout, have underlined the need for reform.The prime minister telephoned fellow EU leaders, including Germany's Angela Merkel, ahead of Tuesday evening's meeting in Brussels to emphasise that the results of the European elections, and the low turnout, have underlined the need for reform.
But supporters of Eurosceptic campaign group Business for Britain have written to the Daily Telegraph calling for Mr Cameron to spell out more clearly which powers should be taken back to Britain from Brussels.But supporters of Eurosceptic campaign group Business for Britain have written to the Daily Telegraph calling for Mr Cameron to spell out more clearly which powers should be taken back to Britain from Brussels.
Mr Cameron has received conflicting advice from two former Conservative cabinet members on how to handle UKIP at the next election.Mr Cameron has received conflicting advice from two former Conservative cabinet members on how to handle UKIP at the next election.
Lord Tebbit told the BBC he would support informal pacts that could see Conservatives backing those UKIP candidates who had the best chance of defeating Labour or the Lib Dems.Lord Tebbit told the BBC he would support informal pacts that could see Conservatives backing those UKIP candidates who had the best chance of defeating Labour or the Lib Dems.
Lord Tebbit also said Mr Cameron needed to publish this year the bill for a referendum on Europe in 2017, and set out soon the areas in which he wanted to renegotiate powers back from Brussels.Lord Tebbit also said Mr Cameron needed to publish this year the bill for a referendum on Europe in 2017, and set out soon the areas in which he wanted to renegotiate powers back from Brussels.
He said about UKIP's success in the elections: "I don't think we'll see them sweep to power at the next election but unless the government can come up with answers to which UKIP are asking, lord knows what will happen."He said about UKIP's success in the elections: "I don't think we'll see them sweep to power at the next election but unless the government can come up with answers to which UKIP are asking, lord knows what will happen."
Lord Heseltine said any pacts would split the party and there should not be a deal with UKIP "under any circumstances".Lord Heseltine said any pacts would split the party and there should not be a deal with UKIP "under any circumstances".
"If you say to me, 'Are they going to be a major force in the next general election?' the answer is no," he said."If you say to me, 'Are they going to be a major force in the next general election?' the answer is no," he said.
"It was the place to go to protest about certain things that have been happening which they associate with Europe, but the real problem is the recession."It was the place to go to protest about certain things that have been happening which they associate with Europe, but the real problem is the recession.
"Whenever you get a recession of this sort, mid-term election results find a protest point. It used to be the Lib Dems.""Whenever you get a recession of this sort, mid-term election results find a protest point. It used to be the Lib Dems."
Leadership callLeadership call
Mr Miliband received advice from Labour former cabinet ministers Lord Hutton and Alan Milburn, who wrote to the Times urging him to avoid a "Dutch auction of... ever tighter immigration controls" and instead argue for managed migration.Mr Miliband received advice from Labour former cabinet ministers Lord Hutton and Alan Milburn, who wrote to the Times urging him to avoid a "Dutch auction of... ever tighter immigration controls" and instead argue for managed migration.
They called on the party leader to "have the courage of his convictions and come out fighting".They called on the party leader to "have the courage of his convictions and come out fighting".
Meanwhile, more than 300 Lib Dem activists have signed an online petition advising Mr Clegg to resign.Meanwhile, more than 300 Lib Dem activists have signed an online petition advising Mr Clegg to resign.
John Pugh, the Liberal Democrat MP for Southport, called for a review of the party's leadership and strategy after it lost all but one of its 12 MEPs. John Pugh, the Liberal Democrat MP for Southport, called for a review of the party's leadership and strategy after it lost all but one of its 12 MEPs but Business Secretary said there was "no leadership issue".
He said: "If we carry on as usual, we are like the generals at the Somme, because these losses are horrendous."
But Mr Cable said: "Now is not the time for in-fighting and introspection. The party must hold its nerve."
Mr Clegg said he wanted to "finish the job" and insisted it had not crossed his mind to resign.
"At the point when our big decisions, our big judgements are being vindicated, we are not going to buckle, we are not going to lose our nerve, we are not going to walk away," he said.
The European elections result is the first time a party other than the Conservatives or Labour has won a UK national election for 100 years.The European elections result is the first time a party other than the Conservatives or Labour has won a UK national election for 100 years.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the party was a truly national force and had "momentum" behind it.
UKIP won 27.5% of the vote and had 24 MEPs elected. Labour, on 25.4%, narrowly beat the Tories into third place while the Lib Dems came sixth behind the Greens. The SNP won two seats in Scotland.UKIP won 27.5% of the vote and had 24 MEPs elected. Labour, on 25.4%, narrowly beat the Tories into third place while the Lib Dems came sixth behind the Greens. The SNP won two seats in Scotland.
Northern Ireland has yet to declare its results.Northern Ireland has yet to declare its results.
Far-right anti-EU parties, including the Front National in France, made gains across Europe as did anti-austerity groups from the left.Far-right anti-EU parties, including the Front National in France, made gains across Europe as did anti-austerity groups from the left.
Mr Farage said UKIP was aiming to win the Newark by-election next week, to try to "turn the heat" up on Mr Cameron.
It would target a dozen or more seats in next year's general election, he added.
Following UKIP's victory in the European elections, some politicians say it was a 'protest vote' but UKIP leader Nigel Farage disagrees claiming the result is an "earthquake" in British politics. If you voted UKIP what were your reasons? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'UKIP Vote' in the heading, and including your contact details.Following UKIP's victory in the European elections, some politicians say it was a 'protest vote' but UKIP leader Nigel Farage disagrees claiming the result is an "earthquake" in British politics. If you voted UKIP what were your reasons? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'UKIP Vote' in the heading, and including your contact details.