The former UKIP leader has led his new party to victory in the European elections
Nigel Farage retained his seat as an MEP in the south east of England as his newly formed Brexit Party continued its successes at the European elections.
The vote saw a total collapse of the Conservative vote in the region, falling from 30.9 per cent to just 10.3 per cent. While the Brexit Party grew UKIP’s previous dominance in the region, taking the main hard Brexit party vote from 29.9 per cent to 36.1 per cent.
The Brexit Party secured four seats in the region, with Lib Dems taking three, and Labour, the Conservatives and the Greens each now holding a single seat.
The result reflects voting across the UK as a whole, where the Brexit Party and Lib Dems have enjoyed success, while Labour and Conservatives have suffered losses.
Speaking after the result, Farage said: “Never before in British politics has a new party, launched six weeks ago, topped the polls in a national election.
“The reason, of course, is very obvious: we voted to leave in a referendum, we were supposed to do so on March 29 and we haven’t. There’s a huge message here, the Labour and Conservative parties can learn a massive lesson tonight, though I don’t suppose they actually will.”
Overall vote share in the south east of England
Brex: 36.1% (+36.1)
LDem: 25.7% (+17.7)
Grn: 13.5% (+4.4)
Con: 10.3% (-20.6)
Lab: 7.3% (-7.4)
ChUK: 4.2% (+4.2)
UKIP: 2.2% (-29.9)
