Will the European Elections affect the UK?
AFTER Theresa May negotiated a deal with Brussels to extend Brexit until October 31, the UK has agreed to take part in the European Elections.
Brits went to the polls to cast their votes to decide the Members of the European Parliament on Thursday, May 23.
Will the European Elections affect the UK?
Every five years, European Union countries go to the polls to elect members of the European Parliament.
Britain was meant to have left the EU on March 29, 2019, and few envisaged that we would be taking part in the European elections.
But part of the Brexit extension deal agreed between Brussels and the UK means if European Parliament elections do not take place Britain will be forced to leave on June 1, 2019, without a deal.
The parties had to submit the names of the candidates representing them to the elections watchdog by April 25, or 24 hours earlier in the case of the South West region.
Brit went to the polls on Thursday, May 23 to cast their vote.
Results came in on Sunday, May 26.
How long will the MEPs sit for?
If a Brexit deal is agreed soon after the elections then the UK’s MEPS will not take their seats.
But if that doesn’t happen then the newly elected MEPs will take their place in the European Parliament – which sits in Brussels and Strasbourg - in early July.
European Council President Donald Tusk has said that MEPs could sit for “months or even longer” if the negotiations drag on.
At this stage, how long the UK MEPs will continue to sit is anyone's guess.
Who took part?
Many now regard the elections as a proxy referendum on Brexit and the UK's future in the EU.
All the main political parties in the United Kingdom put up candidates with the country divided up into 11 regions.
Two new parties were contesting for seats in the elections – both representing either side of the Brexit divide.
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage entered the fray with his new Brexit Party which aims to ensure the UK leaves the EU as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, Change UK - formerly The Independent Group – wants the UK to remain in the EU and is campaigning for a second referendum.
Who won the most UK seats?
Nigel Farage's Brexit Party won the elections.
The Brexit Party won 29 seats, Labour had 10 and the Tories had a dismal four.
The Greens - who also enjoyed a boost from pro-EU voters - were on seven, up from three in 2014.
The Lib Dems bagged 16 seats.
The SNP gained three seats, and Plaid Cymru and DUP got one each.
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How much did it cost?
The last time European elections were held in 2014, the UK spent £109million on them.
The main costs were securing polling stations and venues to run counts as well as mailing out candidate information and polling cards.
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