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Issue:- 29 May 2014

DID you vote? This is one of the questions being asked following the massive political shake up that has happened throughout the UK in both the Local and European elections this year. Another is what is this telling us about the political climate across the EU. The big news nationally and internationally is that after the years of financial crisis, the biggest danger to the European project is now the Citizens within its member state who, as PM David Cameron is quoted as saying, are "disillusioned" with the EU. PM David Cameron also said their message was "received and understood". For many establishment parties in Britain and across the EU; they are facing an unprecedented challenge after this years elections results. In the UK, it was not just the European Parliament Elections that shook the political landscape, but also the Local Council Elections that have sent shockwaves though the foundations of UK power. Both the local and European Elections took place on Thursday, 22 May 2014, but the results were staggered with the local results mainly all being released on 23 May throughout the UK, and the EU results released on night of Sunday, 25 May 2014 and into the following day. Surprisingly though, many people eligible to vote, who we have spoken to did not vote, so this result could have been even worse if they had. At the heart of the matter seems to be a distrust and resentment of the EU, that has appeared not just in the UK, but throughout the 28 member states. This distrust in the UK appears to have been shown in the local elections as well. Nationally, the Lib Dems have been All but obliterated of the political landscape, with UKIP storming ahead, raising worrying questions for Lib Dem's about The United Kingdom General Election that will be held in 2015. With the latest figures from polls suggesting that 50% of UKIP voters will stick with party in 2015, enough to profoundly alter electoral arithmetic across UK and might make a remarkable change for the 56th Parliament. It is not thought by many that the UK's continued inclusion in the EU could be at stake. But will the EU dominate the National General Election, or will other topics alter it again? The European Elections are often seen as protest votes, as often are at local elections. With local elections, they can also reflect local feelings though, so they are harder to use as a guide to any backlash. One thing is for certain, the 2015 will be much focused on anti-immigration, but mainstream political parties will find it hard now, not to reduce it simply to economic and social insecurity.

So what are your views as to what has happened in the elections this year?  Please do let us know if you voted, and if not why not?  Do you think that the number of protest votes made in the past to the Liberal Democrats have now been made to the likes of UKIP?  Did the high number of protest parties and independents who have stood this time affect the results for the Lid Dems and the other main parties?  Lastly, do you think Labour will get in with the European Election after looking at these results?  Also let us know your views about the EU and what you think the EU has done or has not done for us by emailing us to:- news24@southportreporter.com.

In the local elections, Merseyside has been painted red, by Labour wins.

Results are as follows:-

► In Sefton the Metropolitan District Council is a Labour hold. It had a ⅓ of the seats up for election, 22 seats in total. the results are as follows for Sefton:- Labour have 40 Seats - up +4, Liberal Democrat have - 17 Seats, down -3, Conservative have 7, down -2, Independent have 2, up +1

► St Helens Metropolitan District Council ⅓ of the council's 48 up for election (16 in total) and again Labour held it. The results are now that:- Labour have 43 seats, up by +3, Conservative have 3 seats, with no gains or falls. The Liberal Democrat now have 2 seats, down by -3.

► Wirral Metropolitan District Council held as Labour after a ⅓ of its seats also went up for election, in total 23 seats. The results:- Labour now have 38 seats, Conservatives have 21 seats. The Liberal Democrats have lost 1 and now have 6 seats. The Green Party now have 1 seat.

► Knowsley Metropolitan District Council had 21 seats up for election, a ⅓ of the seats. It was also a Labour hold, with no changes.

► Liverpool Metropolitan District Council also had a ⅓ of the Council up for election, with 20 seats up for grabs. The results:- are that the Labour Party have 21, the Green Party have 1 seat, Liberal Party have 1 seat.

► Halton Council's local elections have resulted in a Labour hold. In total 17 seats, a ⅓ of the Councils seats had been up for election. It now stands that Labour have 51 seats, a gain of 1, Liberal Democrat now have 3 having lost 1, and the Conservative hold 2 seats.

► Warrington Council, a Unitary Authority, had a ⅓ of its seats open to election, a total of 19 seats. It was also a Labour hold!

B.O.A. 70th Anniversary DVD

THE video footage we have taken at the 70th BOA events this year in Liverpool has now been fully edited is available to buy, on a DVD, from our Online Shop, on Mersey Reporter very soon.  For each DVD sold, £3.00 will go to the Liverpool's Lord Mayor's Charity Appeal. (Registered Charity No. 229539)  At this stage we can only do UK postage options, but if you are outside the UK, you can still order copies, but only via emailing us:- news24@merseyreporter.com with your FULL address and we will get back to you with a postage cost and a payment link, should you wish to continue.

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