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On Friday, June 21, 2019, the UK’s Court of Protection ordered a mentally disabled Nigerian woman in her 20s to abort her 22 week old baby.
Fortunately, the following Monday, the Court of Appeal reversed that decision:
The world had followed this story, and police are still investigating the circumstances of the woman’s pregnancy.
Going back to June 21, the Catholic News Agency reported:
The Court of Protection handles cases involving individuals judged to lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.
The woman, who cannot been publicly identified, has been described as “in her twenties,” and is under the care of an NHS trust, part of the UK’s National Health Service.
Doctors at the trust wished to abort her pregnancy and argued that, due to her diminished mental capacity, the abortion would be less traumatic for the woman than giving birth, especially if the baby would then be placed in foster care.
The woman’s mother made clear to doctors and the court that she would assume care of her grandchild.
The woman is believed to have the mental capacity of a grade school-age child. She is reportedly Catholic, and her mother is Nigerian.
It is unknown if the pregnancy was conceived consensually, and police are investigating the circumstances of conception.
The woman’s mother, reported to be a former midwife, registered her absolute opposition to the abortion citing the Catholic faith of herself and her daughter. A social worker who cares for the woman also disagreed that she should be forced to have an abortion.
The judge said she did not believe the woman understood what it meant to have a baby.
The Washington Examiner had more on the story that day (emphases mine):
In her ruling for the Court of Protection on June 21, Justice Nathalie Lieven said, “I am acutely conscious of the fact that for the State to order a woman to have a termination where it appears that she doesn’t want it is an immense intrusion … [but] I have to operate in [her] best interests, not on society’s views of termination.”
“Immense intrusion” is a remarkable understatement. If the government can force you to abort your child, is there any limit to its power?
The pregnant mother and her family do not want an abortion, but she is under the care of a division of the U.K.’s National Health Service — thus why this matter has gone to court and why they have not already gotten one. But because the pregnant mother is mentally challenged, Lieven said, “I think she would like to have a baby in the same way she would like to have a nice doll,” completely dismissing the mother’s desire for her baby.
Barrister John McKendrick, who is leading the legal team for the pregnant woman’s mother, says the court has “no proper evidence” that having an abortion will be beneficial to the pregnant mother. “Their evidence is premised on a narrow clinical view. The application must be dismissed,” McKendrick said. The pregnant woman’s mother has added that abortion strongly violates her family’s Catholic values and that she would raise her grandchild herself.
I have no idea why the judge, a woman herself, wanted an abortion instead of adoption. Could she not bear to see the baby go to a good home?
A Canadian CEO considered the term ‘right to choose’:
I have no doubt that millions of prayers ascended on this future mother’s behalf.
As is so often the case with prayer, the good Lord heard us and answered our pleas according to His will.
On June 24, Sky News reported on the welcome reversal (emphasis in the original):
Doctors must not be allowed to perform an abortion on a pregnant mentally-ill woman, Court of Appeal judges ruled on Monday.
This is a marvellous result, especially for the people of United Kingdom.
Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayers! Please bless this lady and her mother in the weeks and months ahead. Please also bless the child once s/he is born. To God be all glory, now and forever! Amen.
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On Monday, June 3, 2019, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in London for a three-day State Visit:
The Daily Mail has a full itinerary of the trip.
The president’s adult children accompanied them, along with Cabinet members and senior staff.
America’s first couple stayed at the US ambassador’s residence in Regent’s Park, Winfield House. The Trump offspring stayed at the Corinthia Hotel in central London.
Monday was packed with events for the Trumps. This video recaps the day, which began by landing at Winfield House, meeting the Queen for lunch at Buckingham Palace, taking tea as guests of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House and being the guests of honour at a State Dinner at the palace:
I was out of the country at the time and wanted to have a record of his trip by posting about it here. I am not sure how much made the media outlets and how it was reported.
One thing that did surprise me — and my better half, who is English — was that the president spoke with the honour guard as he was inspecting them. Both of us were shocked. This is a no-no. Then, Prince Charles did the same. See a brief glimpse at 11:40:
France’s BFMTV showed much more of Trump’s talking to the honour guard. The French commentators were equally surprised.
Meanwhile, the Queen, her daughter-in-law Camilla Duchess of Cornwall and Mrs Trump enjoyed a light moment:
Afterwards, the Queen hosted a private lunch and showed the Trumps various items and documents from the Royal Collection pertaining to the United States.
Then it was time to go to Westminster Abbey. The Duke of York — Prince Andrew — accompanied the Trumps, who received a tour of the Abbey from clergy and placed a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Despite its title, the video below does not include tea with Prince Charles but does have extensive coverage from the visit to Westminster Abbey:
The State Banquet took place that evening:
Protests took place outside the palace, but guests were undisturbed:
As one would imagine, much preparation went into this dinner:
This is what the ballroom looked like as the Queen’s guests filed in:
Sarah Sanders, who also accompanied the Trumps on their 2018 visit to Windsor Castle, will have another lovely memory of her time as press secretary:
At the State Banquet, the president remembered the events of D-Day and those who bravely fought for freedom:
He also made another faux pas. Like Michelle Obama, he touched the Queen. Unlike Michelle Obama, he did it twice. The Daily Mail reported (emphases mine):
The Special Relationship between Britain and the United States was reaffirmed last night with moving toasts in the Buckingham Palace ballroom as Donald Trump clinked glasses with the Queen and patted her shoulder having called her a ‘great, great woman’.
Amid the splendour and ceremony of a state banquet for 170 dignitaries and guests, the US President thanked the monarch for her ‘gracious hospitality’ and ‘nearly seven decades’ of personal friendship with the United States.
He spoke of the Blitz and the bombing of Buckingham Palace, saying that ‘in their dark hour the people of this nation showed the world what it means to be British’.
He praised the Queen a ‘great, great woman’ recalling her service on the Home Front during the war, and said ‘the bond between our nations was forever sealed in that great crusade’.
He said the Queen embodied ‘the spirit of dignity, duty, and patriotism that beats proudly in every British heart’.
Raising his glass the 45th President of the United States said: ‘On behalf of all Americans, I offer a toast to the eternal friendship of our people, the vitality of our nations and to the long cherished and truly remarkable reign of Her Majesty, the Queen.’
Shortly before retaking his seat Mr Trump appeared briefly to breach royal protocol by placing his hand on the Queen’s back in a gesture of personal thanks. By tradition the Queen should not be touched, but the President’s host seemed unperturbed following his warm personal toast.
In her address, the Queen welcomed the Trumps, celebrated the Special Relationship between the UK and the US, and while Brexit was not mentioned she highlighted how the two countries faced ‘new challenges of the 21st century’.
The article includes a brilliant set of photos, by the way.
Here is another terrific photograph:
The Queen’s remarks followed:
Mr President,
I am delighted to welcome you and Mrs Trump to Buckingham Palace this evening, just twelve months after our first meeting at Windsor Castle. Visits by American Presidents always remind us of the close and longstanding friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and I am so glad that we have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both our countries attach to our relationship.
In the coming days, you will see some of our most treasured historical buildings, speak to the business leaders whose expertise and innovation drive our economies, and meet members of our Armed Services, past and present. You will also travel to Portsmouth and Normandy to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day.
On that day – and on many occasions since – the Armed Forces of both our countries fought side-by-side to defend our cherished values of liberty and democracy. Mr President, in your State of the Union Address this year, you paid tribute to some of the American heroes who risked their lives, and we owe an immeasurable debt to the British, American and Allied soldiers who began the liberation of Europe on 6th June 1944.
I paid my first State Visit to your country at the invitation of President Eisenhower. As Supreme Allied Commander, he had ultimate responsibility for the execution of the Normandy landings. In his headquarters in St James’s Square – not far from Buckingham Palace – British and American officers worked closely together to plan the freedom of a continent, and it would be no exaggeration to say that millions of lives depended on their common endeavour.
As we face the new challenges of the Twenty First Century, the anniversary of D-Day reminds us of all that our countries have achieved together. After the shared sacrifices of the Second World War, Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions, to ensure that the horrors of conflict would never be repeated. While the world has changed, we are forever mindful of the original purpose of these structures: nations working together to safeguard a hard won peace …
Mr President, as we look to the future, I am confident that our common values and shared interests will continue to unite us. Tonight we celebrate an alliance that has helped to ensure the safety and prosperity of both our peoples for decades, and which I believe will endure for many years to come …
The Queen then proposed a toast:
At the end of the day, Trump tweeted:
Protests did take place around the country, but a crowd of well wishers was on hand in front of Buckingham Palace to greet him.
Events on Tuesday, June 4 involved talks about trade:
More protests took place in London:
Interestingly, Prime Minister Theresa May and President Trump did not shake hands when he and his wife arrived:
The Trumps received a tour of No. 10:
Mrs Trump was with Mr May during the meeting between the president and our outgoing Prime Minister:
Here are clips from the May-Trump press conference:
Meanwhile, a British woman burst the Trump baby balloon. Great news, even if she was arrested:
The Gateway Pundit reported:
“I’m going in..I’m going,” the woman says as she walked up to the baby Trump blimp.
The woman then stabbed the blimp with a pen and a small popping sound is heard followed by gasps from onlookers.
The woman screamed “It’s a national a disgrace! The President of the United States is the best President ever! Shame on you!” after she popped the balloon.
Police quickly moved in for the arrest as the woman walked away.
“It’s going down baby,” the woman said as police approached her and cuffed her.
The woman, whose hand was bleeding, had a fiery exchange with the police and pleaded for them to stop manhandling her.
That evening, the Trumps hosted a dinner for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Winfield House:
The Daily Caller has more photos.
It should be noted that the Trumps did not experience all the trappings of a full State Visit, which includes staying at a royal residence and addressing either house of Parliament.
The Washington Examiner explained:
… royal watchers said the Trumps will be missing out on many of the trappings of a state visit, such as staying at Buckingham Palace. “Not being invited to speak before Parliament is testament to the fact they know he is going to be rude and there’s going to be massive protests,” said Marlene Koenig, an author and expert on British and European royalty.
“They are doing the bare minimum of what they would do for a state visit of a major ally.”
…
Several honors afforded visiting American presidents or other heads of state will be missing.
He will not get the usual welcome in Horse Guards Parade, the grand parade ground in central London where visiting heads of state are usually invited to inspect the honor guard with the queen before a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace.
Instead, he will follow the example of President George W. Bush, who was given his royal welcome in the garden of Buckingham Palace in 2003 because of fears protesters would line the route through London …
Trump will not get to stay at Buckingham Palace with the Queen. Both Bush and Obama, the only two American presidents to have been granted official state visits, stayed at the royal residence, but Trump has been told that renovations to the east wing of the palace meant its guest rooms were out of service …
The run-up to this visit featured speculation about whether Trump would be invited to address the British Parliament.
In the end, the speaker — the figure who presides over the House of Commons and who had previously said Trump’s attendance would run counter to Parliament’s longstanding opposition to sexism and racism — said he had not been asked by British officials to host the president. Presidents Obama, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton all addressed Parliament.
A U.K. official said Trump had not requested to address Parliament. “The president not asking to do that is the norm,” he said. On both sides of the Atlantic, a mutually-convenient cover story of Trump not being asked to be invited in order to avoid being told he will not be invited appears to have been adopted …
Previous visits have sometimes reflected the warm relations between individual leaders.
In 1982 the queen invited Ronald Reagan to stay with her at Windsor Castle and took him horse riding. A decade late, Bill and Hillary Clinton were treated to a night aboard the royal yacht Britannia.
And in 2011, Obama grilled sausages with David Cameron in the garden of Number 10 during an event for British and American service personnel.
That said, in summing up his stay in the UK, Trump tweeted:
I will cover the president’s attendance at D-Day commemorations in Portsmouth and in Normandy in tomorrow’s post.
In the coming days, I hope to have time to post on President Trump’s recent trips to Japan, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France.
For now, here is an interesting conversation wherein British Trump supporters talk about the Left and media manipulation:
In case the tweet gets censored, this is what the black supporter says:
The left say I shouldn’t exist, if you’re a particular person you should vote a particular way. That’s why they’re going to lose again to Trump in 2020.
Good man. The other men seem to be from Northern Ireland. They all understand what is going on.
Having been out of the country at the time, I was heartened to see that a great crowd of supporters, like these gentlemen, welcomed the American president to London. They were along The Mall, which leads to Buckingham Palace, and in front of the palace itself:
I would love to hear what these good people have to say about Brexit!
On May 23, 2019, LBC’s award-winning journalist Rachel Venables broadcast a revealing investigation about Purple Drank’s arrival in the UK:
She received many negative comments to her Twitter thread on the subject, but, let’s keep in mind that the kiddos already know about it. She’s no doubt trying to inform parents and guardians:
Her article for LBC radio has more. Excerpts follow, emphases mine:
Teenagers are turning lemonade, boiled sweets and liquid codeine into a potentially lethal drug.
The liquid Codeine is shipped in from Africa and France and can be easily bought on Instagram.
It has risen in popularity after rap stars in the US starting singing about it and taking it in their videos.
The drug takes around 20 minutes to kick in and lasts around three hours. It is popular amongst teenagers and students and one user told LBC it is “the drug to be seen with at parties” …
The drug advice website Frank states that codeine is especially dangerous to mix with alcohol and drugs like Valium and other opioid[s]. They state: “Taking more codeine than prescribed to you by a doctor, or taking illegal codeine (such as from a friend, a dealer or website), increases the risk of overdose and other side effects.”
The UK Addiction Treatment Centres website adds: “Regular users of codeine often develop both a physical and psychological dependence on the drug, which causes various symptoms whenever they try to quit.
“To avoid these withdrawal symptoms, many people will continue to use codeine, even if doing so causes negative consequences for themselves and others. It is this cycle of abuse that more often than not leads to a crippling addiction.”
It is so addictive, doctors advise not taking it for more than three days.
One young man, Noel, now 18, started drinking it a year ago. Since then, he has increased his usage and takes it every weekend. He describes the ordering process on Instagram (!?!) for Purple Drank, also known as Purple Lean:
People have their own lean pages to sell. Then there’s a PayPal or Depop page they send you once you order it.
There’s a normal delivery time of 3-5 days and it will be with you. It will be classed as child’s clothing, because they don’t get checked as hard. It protects the shape of the bottles as well.
It’s so easy for kids to order it to their house and tell their mum it’s some shoes.
Mitch, a dealer in the Midlands, says he’s been making a lot of money by selling ‘lean’. He says that police are unaware of ‘drank”s popularity:
Everyone was asking for it, couldn’t get it and we realised you could charge what you wanted and people pay it. If you get a good weekend, you can make a few thousand pounds.
I haven’t heard of anyone being done and prosecuted for selling bottles of lean yet. I don’t think they’ve caught on yet to how big of a issue it is really.
The government’s ‘Talk to Frank’ service is for those who want to talk about drug addiction. Call Frank free on 0300 123 6600.
A commenter had this helpful information:
Purple Drank is an illegal recreational drink popular in the Southern United States rap community, whose main ingredients originally consisted of prescription strength cough syrup, containing codeine and promethazine, and either a carbonated soft drink (generally Sprite) or fruit juice. The purple-ish hue of Purple Drank comes from the dyes in the cough syrup. Recently, the term has expanded to cover mixtures including over-the-counter cough syrup and vodka in place of prescription cough syrup. Other terms for Purple Drank include Barre, Oil, Purple Tonic, Lean (or Southern Lean,) Drank, and Syrup (which is sometimes slangly pronounced as Sizzurp.)
After all this time, I thought we would escape the scourge of Purple Drank. Apparently not, sadly.
France began reporting on it in 2016. French pharmacists first noticed it in 2015. L’Internaute, a daily online news service, explained (translation mine):
The ingredients in this marvellous, dangerous mixture are all legal. Purple Drank is a mixture of cough syrup containing codeine, which is an opiate, and promethezine, an antihistamine neuroleptic, [combined with] alcohol and energy drinks. On the other side of the Atlantic, this beverage has created a very real health problem.
The consequences can be serious. Drowsiness, agitation, delirium and even convulsions: it’s not a pretty sight. And victims are mostly young people: adolescents from 12 years old up to young adults. Both boys and girls are affected …
Pharmacists were the first to notice this phenomenon. In 2015, the National Order of Pharmacists raised the alarm.
Since then, pharmacists, general practitioners, ER doctors and addiction specialists have been urged to report anything that ‘seems suspect, in particular, coming from young adults or adolescents’.
Parents, guardians: summer’s coming. Please be alert.
There is much to cover in the aftermath of the EU elections held in the UK.
Hell certainly broke loose at the end of May, and I don’t mean Theresa.
Labour
After many months, if not a year, of anti-Semitic slurs coming from some elements of the Labour Party, the EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission) finally took action:
During the BBC’s programme about the EU election results on Sunday, May 27, Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell declared that he had voted for the Liberal Democrats, the largest Remain party. The Labour Party duly expelled him, then decided to review their decision:
Kate Hoey, on the other hand, has played her cards well as the most prominent Leave Labour MP since 2016. She believes that The Brexit Party deserves a seat at the negotiating table:
The Brexit Party
Nigel Farage is absolutely correct about Theresa May’s ‘deal’, or treaty:
Meanwhile, party chairman Richard Tice, one of three newly-elected MEPs for the East of England region, isn’t taking any nonsense:
On May 29, Westmonster reported:
Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice has issued a legal letter to an SNP MEP following allegations of money laundering were made in a Sky News interview on Monday.
Alyn Smith accused the Brexit Party of being “shysters” who were “a shell company for a money laundering front”.
The interview which has been circulated across social media for the last 48 hours was brought to the attention of Tice whose solicitors have now issued Mr Smith with the following letter:
Conservative Party
The race continues for party leader, succeeding Mrs May.
The overall picture of the runners and riders shows gaps in their commitment to delivering Brexit:
Priti Patel has been committed to delivering a proper Brexit since 2016:
She also recognises the despair at grassroots level among the loyal, tireless volunteers:
It won’t be long before we see how this develops for the Conservatives.
I hope true Leavers do well. More to come as the leadership contest narrows.
Jamie Oliver presents himself as a man of the people, although he does come across as being holier than thou.
Yet, the reality is a bit different.
On May 21, 2019, he made headlines as his restaurant chain went into administration. One thousand jobs are at risk.
On May 22, the BBC reported that staff were less than pleased with the way his managers terminated their employment in Glasgow (emphases mine):
… staff at Jamie’s were still hopeful that a turnaround was on the horizon.
“We knew it wasn’t doing as well as we’d want it to be,” says Lucy, who worked at the Glasgow branch for more than three years.
Staff, she says, were led to believe that a refit was around the corner, and that taps offering Brewdog beer would soon be installed.
Instead, they got a simple email.
“My partner was meant to be on shift this morning,” says Lucy, who asked for her real name not to be used.
“He was told at the last minute not to come in as the locks were being changed.
“We were then invited to join a conference call and told we had all been made redundant, effective immediately.”
Lucy and her partner, who worked at Jamie’s for five years, say they feel there was a lack of transparency at the firm.
“I wish they hadn’t said to us that it was fine, when it obviously wasn’t,” she says.
Oliver says his restaurants were ‘effectively franchises’, meaning that he was not involved with their day to day running. Even so, I am surprised he did not insist that the franchise holders show truth and compassion in informing employees of their situation.
In his documentaries, Oliver has been very critical of people and politicians who do not do right by the ordinary citizen. I thought he would practise what he preaches. Apparently not.
Oliver’s restaurants are not the only British restaurant chain in trouble. Many others are.
I am amazed when I go into London and see shopfront after shopfront occupied by these chains. It isn’t at all sustainable.
There was a time three years ago when we were at the top of the worldwide restaurant boom. No longer.
The aforementioned BBC article says:
Once seen as competitors to Jamie’s, Italian chain Strada is down to just three branches, while Carluccio’s has been forced to close approximately a third of its restaurants, after losing tens of millions of pounds.
Burger brand Byron, French cuisine chain Cafe Rouge, and pizza outlet Prezzo aren’t faring much better.
Lucy says the writing is on the wall for restaurant chains:
The market for chain restaurants is dying – there are loads of places you can go in Glasgow that are cheaper.
That’s great news, because I prefer eating at family-owned restaurants. London used to have a lot, but rising rates and leases put many out of business.
Family-owned establishments often try harder. Their lives depend on it.
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Out of all the possible future Conservative leaders, Boris Johnson is the best known.
The whole country knows his name.
They know his Sunday Telegraph editorials.
He was twice elected Mayor of London and might be the last Conservative mayor the city will see in a while because of demographic changes.
He also served as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under Theresa May between July 2016 and July 2018.
Those who follow British politics know he flip-flops on various issues.
However, he makes good speeches and can withstand the slings and arrows from the opposition.
While Labour and trade unions want a general election, not due until 2022, Boris is the only one who can fend them off.
But, what about Brexit, should he become Prime Minister?
Veteran journalist Andrew Neil confirms that Boris, as he is popularly known, would renegotiate with the EU:
Sebastian Payne is the Whitehall correspondent for the Financial Times. His short Twitter thread is as follows:
Correct.
Such a stance would also bring some Brexit Party voters on board in a general election, should one be called before 2022.
However, there is a caveat. Earlier this year, Boris asked his constituents whether he should vote for Theresa May’s deal when it came up for its third (unsuccessful) vote. His constituents told him not to compromise, yet he voted to approve May’s withdrawal agreement. Hmm.
Now, it could be that if he becomes PM, he will have more resolve.
Whatever the case, at this juncture, Boris Johnson — like him or not — is probably the Conservatives’ best chance for party leader and PM.
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The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have issued an invitation to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for tea when they visit the UK next week.
This is a first for any US president, according to the Daily Mail:
Mr Trump will be the first serving American president to meet Prince Charles on such intimate terms.
This is partly because the Queen has been handing over a number of her responsibilities to him, the heir to the throne.
The Mail reported (emphases mine):
The unexpected meeting will take place at Clarence House, the heir to the throne’s official residence in London.
It will come on the same day as the Queen’s official state banquet for Mr Trump, which Charles will also attend. The prince did not meet the President on his working visit to Britain last year, which included a meeting with the Queen at Windsor Castle amid massive protests in the capital.
His sons, Princes William and Harry did not meet with the president, either:
Reports at the time suggested Charles and his sons William and Harry had refused to have anything to do with the arrangements, which was seen as a snub by the Americans.
However, this year, The Daily Caller says that the Trumps will meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the State Banquet, which the Queen will host:
Kate Middleton and Prince William are also expected to be at the banquet.
The Daily Mail points out:
The Donald Trump Prince Charles met on a visit to New York, soon after his wedding to Camilla in 2005, is a very different figure from the outspoken president he will welcome into his home.
Despite their intrinsic disagreement on climate change and chlorinated chicken, Prince Charles and President Trump will no doubt find subjects on which they do agree.
Camilla is highly regarded as someone who puts everyone at ease. She also has a sparkling wit.
The Trumps are sure to have a delightful afternoon.
Those going into London that day will find increased security measures and road closures in the vicinity around Clarence House, no doubt.
President Trump and First Lady Melania visited the UK in July 2018, which I covered at the time:
When Mr May hosted Mrs Trump in London (July 13)
When Trump met with Britain’s two most powerful women (July 13)
July 13: Piers Morgan’s exclusive interview with President Trump
July 13-15 : Trump’s weekend in Scotland — memorable for the wrong reason
I hope the Trumps have a safe, enjoyable and productive visit.
Between Thursday, May 23 and Sunday, May 26, European voters let their leaders know what was on their minds.
The 2019 EU elections were quite the eye-opener, as nationalist parties and the Greens did very well indeed:
Like them or not, interesting trends emerged:
Italy
Matteo Salvini was thrilled:
France
Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) — National Rally — edged past Emmanuel Macron’s LREM — Renaissance — list:
Politico reported that Le Pen’s party:
scored about 24 percent of the vote, compared with roughly 22.5 percent for Macron’s centrist-liberal party, according to two initial projections.
United Kingdom
The biggest news came from the United Kingdom. The six-week old Brexit Party won nine out of ten regions.
The Telegraph reported (emphases mine):
The Brexit Party has won nine of the 10 regions to declare their results in the European elections, claiming 28 of 64 seats in the European Parliament.
Nigel Farage’s party came top in the North East, North West, East of England, Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber, the South West and South East.
This came largely at the expense of the Conservative Party. Theresa May’s party have lost a huge share of the vote across all regions, so far losing 15 MEP seats to leave a total of three. The party is in fifth place, with its lowest vote share in a national election since they formed in 1834.
Good grief!
However, The Brexit Party is represented in 10 out of 10 regions, as this Scottish result came in early on Monday morning:
It seems that Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party will now hold one more seat than Angela Merkel’s CDU Party: 29 to 28!
Nigel Farage gave his MEP acceptance speech in Southampton, saying:
These are some of the regional results (click on image to enlarge):
Here are the other new Brexit Party MEPs.
Hearty congratulations, ladies and gentlemen!
What an amazing result!
Like the Conservatives, Labour also suffered. The Liberal Democrats received a lot of Remain votes from Labour voters, as did the Greens. In Scotland, the SNP took a substantial share of Labour votes.
You can read more about the EU election results on the BBC’s website and at the Daily Mail.
