Disaster in the polls

As expected, the local and European elections held on 4 June turned out disastrously for the government. Labour lost the last two shires it controlled in the local elections, while the Conservatives made gains.
The biggest losses were in the European election, where Labour came third (with 15.3% of the votes) after the Conservatives (28.6%) and UKIP (17.4%). The Lib Dems came fourth with about 14%. To make matters worse, the BNP won its first seat in the European Parliament. The Tories will have 25 MEPs, whom they want to take out of the EPP-ED group. Labour and UKIP will have 13 each, and the Lib Dems 11. These results sent shockwaves through the whole political scene, but in spite of several Cabinet resignations and a backbench plot against G. Brown, the PM managed to survive once again, though he is in a much weakened position. His promised reshuffle was very limited, the main change being the promotion of Alan Johnson to Home Secretary. The most likely reason for the failure of the different plots to change leader is that a general election would have to be held soon and that most Labour MPs fear losing their seats...