Published: Wednesday, 10th June, 2009 3:00pm

Tories top Euro table

by Rose Harland

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THE CONSERVATIVES topped the Euro poll across Berkshire - with Labour clinging on to second place in Reading.

UKIP were second in the South East, followed by the Lib Dems and the Greens, pushing Labour into fifth place.

In Reading, the Tories polled 9,894 from a 32.91% turnout, Labour 6,514, the Greens third with 4,978, edging out the Lib Dems (4,600) and UKIP (4,406). The BNP got 1,390.

Tory leader Cllr Andrew Cumpsty said: 'We have done very well to be ahead of Labour in wards like Minster. It should be a very strong message to Labour.'

Reading and District Labour party chairwoman Trish Thomas said: 'I think it is a respectable result in a difficult time.'

She pledged: 'The national party will rally behind Gordon Brown, who I personally think ought to be allowed to get on with his job, and the local party will continue to work hard for Reading.'

Delighted Reading Green Westminster hopeful Rob White said: 'We like to hope that it does show a shift in people voting Green. Hopefully having voted in a Green MEP again people will see that she does a good job and people will see that by voting Green they have effected change.'

Reading Lib Dem leader Cllr Gareth Epps said: 'Clearly these elections have been used by many people as a protest. Labour are finished in Reading and people are coming to recognise that it is going to be the Lib Dems who are going to be challenging the Conservatives here in the next general election when a lot of people will return to their own voting patterns.'

Across the South East the Tories won four seats with 34.8% of the vote, UKIP (18.8%) and the Lib Dems (14.1%) two seats each, and the Greens (11.6% ) and Labour 8.2% with one seat each. Turnout was 28.85%.

The Wokingham borough turnout was 37.2% with the Tories polling 17,692, UKIP (7,518), Lib Dems (6,512), Greens (4,601), Labour (2,717) and BNP (1,212).

Turnout was also 37.2% in West Berkshire, Tories (18,336), Lib Dems (7,167), UKIP (6,126), Greens (4,619), Labour (2,011) and the BNP (1,652).

- South East MEPs: Daniel Hannan, Richard Ashworth, Nirj Diva and James Elles (all Conservative): Nigel Farage, Marta Andreasen (both UKIP); Sharon Bowles, Catherine Bearder (Lib Dem); Caroline Lucas (Green); Peter Skinner (Labour).

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