European Parliament Elections

Following the UK voting on May 22^nd results for the European Parliament were announced on the 25th.  UKIP made the headlines, receiving 27.5% of the vote and increasing their number of MEPs by 11.  Labour won out over the Conservatives but its performance was seen as disappointing only a year ahead of a general Election.  The biggest fall was seen by the Liberal Democrats who lost 10 MEPs.  Across Europe nationalist and Eurosceptic parties gained the most support.  This has led to calls for a change of direction in the European project with more power being transferred back to national governments.  Whether this will actually happen, and what effect it might have on farming policy remains to be seen.  At a wider level, the surge in UKIP support, and the relatively poor performance of the main pro-European parties (Labour and Lib Dems), has seen the odds of the UK leaving the EU completely being cut.  Some bookmakers now put the chances of an exit at around 50:50 over the next 5 years.   This would obviously have a fundamental effect on UK agriculture.