REMAIN parties who want the UK to stay in the European Union did exceptionally well in Wokingham borough’s European elections – the Liberal Democrats came top and the Conservatives in third place.
The Lib Dems comfortably beat second placed Brexit party, while the Greens were fourth.
New party Changes UK was just pipped to sixth place by Labour, who beat them by 39 votes.
UKIP’s vote collapsed – in 2015, they received 11,641 and a 25% vote share compared to this year’s 759 votes.
The results were declared shortly after 10pm by Wokingham borough’s returning officer, Andrew Moulton at the count held at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre.
Wokingham Liberal Democrat chair, Cllr Prue Bray, was delighted with the way in which the result had gone.
She said: “I am absolutely delighted with the result, it’s been very pleasing to see.
“We’ve been solidly Remain for our entire existence, we’re united as a party, we’ve campaigned on Brexit and earned this result.”
The Brexit Party’s agent, Jude Smith, was beaming about their second place.
“I’m really, really pleased. This is a big remain area, but it shows the strength of feeling for Leave. It’s fantastic, I think,” she said.
“It would have been nice to win,” she smiled.
“It definitely gives us a base to build on, we’ll have to see what happens next.”
David Edmonds, chair of Wokingham Conservatives, felt that the results were as expected, but that the change of leader locally as well as the news of Theresa May’s resignation on Friday, meant that the party could look forward with confidence.
He said: “It was always going to be a challenging night for the Conservative party, however with the recent changes to the Borough Council and nationally, this is the beginning of something special for the Conservatives. We’ll see a lot of change to see us re engage with residents.”
Labour had been at the count during the day, but was not present when the results were declared.
Wokingham Labour group leader Cllr Andy Croy said: “It’s clearly not the result we wanted.
“The European elections, as they always do, have provided voters with the chance to have a consequence-free protest vote and voters have given the main parties, and the Tories in particular, a kicking.
“Labour have refused to offer a simplistic solution to a complex Tory-induced crisis and in the heat of an election our more nuanced message has been drowned out by peddlers of easy fixes – and there are no easy fixes.”
The turn out was 41.7%
Cllr Clive Jones, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Wokingham, said: “We got more votes that Labour and Conservatives combined. It’s incredible really.
“If you put our votes and the Greens together, we beat the Brexit party, Labour and the Conservatives.
“The question now has to be asked where does this put John Redwood? Will he retire gracefully?
“How does he feel having put the country through the grist over Brexit and being proud of that achievement?”
He added: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Liberal Democrats come top in neighbouring Reading. We have been able to build on our success in local elections.
“I don’t think it’s a protest vote, a lot of people are strong, strong Remain supporters and they realise that the only party who want to strong remain are the Liberal Democrats. I think they’ll stay with us for quite some time.”
Updated – the Conservative and Green parties were mistakenly swapped around – the Conservatives did come third! Apologies
