Making the best of a dismal poll

AS the dust settles following the European Elections, political activists in Warrington are trying to make the best of the dismal 29 per cent poll in the borough – down sharply on the 42 per cent poll at the last Euro election.
Voting figures for Warrington showed the Conservatives had come top of the poll, with Labour second and the Liberal Democrats third.
But the United Kingdom Independence Party also achieved a significant vote and the British National Party pushed the Greens into sixth place
Conservative spokesman Paul Kennedy pointed out it was the first time the Tories had come first in Warrington in the European Elections.
David Mowat, Prospective Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South, (left) said: “We are delighted to have topped the poll for the whole of Warrington. The first time that this has happened for many decades.
“We are also delighted that since the last Euro election in 2004 there has been a swing to us from both Labour and the LibDems…given the current issues in Westminster the swing from Labour was expected…we were equally pleased by the swing to us from the LibDems…
“Both Labour and the LibDems fought the last election promising a referendum on the new constitution….both reneged on their promise…the voters of Warrington have delivered their verdict.”
But Warrington North MP Helen Jones (right) , while admitting the results had been disappointing for Labour, said: “From the sampling we were able to take it is clear that Labour won in the Warrington North constituency and I am grateful to everyone who stuck with us.”
And Labour’s sub-agent for the European Elections in Warrington, Coun Paul Kenny added: “Despite media reports predicting doom and gloom for Labour, the result in Warrington is a good performance set against the backdrop of the current financial downturn and the justified anger with the expenses scandal at Westminster.
“To come second in the town and beat the Lib Dems into a poor third is a ‘kick in the teeth’ for Warrington’s Lib Dems.”
Both the Labour spokespersons expressed concern at the election of a BNP candidates in the North West.
Helen Jones said: “The election of a BNP candidate to represent us in Europe is a real backward step.
“My own grandfather landed on the beaches of Normandy and fought his way through occupied Germany having previously been evacuated from Dunkirk. As we remember the D-day landings and the brave men who fought Hitler’s fascists, I think it is an insult to their memory that we’ve elected an MEP from a party who have members who celebrate Hitler’s birthday. They have no place in our democratic system.”
Coun Kenny added: “All of us who care about this great town of Warrington, care about our way of life here, care about our local communities, will spend the next five years working to make sure the fascists are not returned.”
The full results for Warrington were: Conservatives 10,978; Labour 8,956; Liberal Democrats 7,853; UKIP 6,886; British National Party 3253; Green Party 2,886; English Democrats 1042; Christian Party 688; Socialist Labour 580; No2EU Yes to Democracy 571; Jury Team 259;
Libertas 190; Independent 104.
A total of 146 ballot papers were spoiled.
As reported by Warrington Worldwide yesterday, a total of 3,554,649 people in the North West – which includes Warrington – did not vote at all.
The 1,651,825 who did vote returned three Conservative, two Labour, one UKIP, one Lib Dem and one BNP candidates to the European Parliament.
This represented a no change situation for the Conservatives, Lib Dems and UKIP, the loss of one seat for Labour and gain of one for the BNP.
MEPs elected are:
Conservative: Robert Atkins, Sajjad Karin, Jacqueline Foster. Labour: Arlene McCarthy and Warrington’s Brian Simpson. UK Independence Party: Paul Nuttall.
Liberal Democrat: Chris Davies. British National Party: Nick Griffin.