Euro Election result is poll boost for Lib Dems

1.02.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jun 2004

The Lib Dems kept their seat with an increased share of the vote

With the results all now in, the Euro election went well for the Lib Dems: Bill Newton Dunn held our seat first won by Nick Clegg in 1999 with a slightly increased share of the vote.

But whilst the Lib Dems took more votes this time, both Labour and the Conservatives in the East Midlands lost both vote share and seats here. Labour went down from two seats to one, and the three seats the Conservatives won in 1999 have been reduced to two.

Charles Kennedy MP, leader of the Lib Dems, said, "In yet another set of elections the Liberal Democrats' share of the vote is up while the other main parties are down to unprecedented levels.

"It is now clear, on the evidence of all these elections, that the story

of the next General Election is one of three party politics. The Liberal Democrats have emerged stronger while the other two main parties have been deeply wounded. This has clearly been a very bad night for the Conservatives and underlines the fact that the Liberal Democrats are the challengers to Labour in their former heartlands."