Tories Lowest National Poll Since 1832

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jun 2004

Howard's Way: Tories get lowest share of poll since reign of William IV

The Liberal Democrats are celebrating gaining two more MEPs across the UK while both Labour and the Conservatives have lost votes and seats. The Conservatives 26.7% of the vote is believed to be their worst performance in a national poll since the Reform Bill of 1832, during the reign of William IV.

The Lib Dems finished the European Election on 12 seats including 2 seats in the North West and the first ever Lib Dem Euro MP in the North East of England. The Lib Dem vote was up 2.3% on 1999, with the Tory vote down 9%, and the Labour vote down 5.4%.

Charles Kennedy, commenting on the European election results, 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."