Rugby's Euro Result

This was again pretty satisfactory from our point of view, taking 32% of the vote compared to 15% for Labour and 13% for the Lib Dems. However, the main beneficiary of the protest vote here was UKIP with more than either Labour or the Lib Dems at 20%. In the Council election the protest vote went to the Green Party, picking up 12% whereas in the Euros they achieved 7%. In addition to a protest, the UKIP vote showed increasing scepticism about Europe and its institutions generally. This strengthening view makes the re-alignment of Party Groupings in the European Parliament more urgent. You can expect to hear more about this is coming weeks and months as we Conservatives link up with others who have a more independent view of how the EU should work.