Reaction to UK European election results

1. The UK is electing 73 MEPs from across 12 regions - 11 have so far declared
2. The Brexit Party have 29 MEPs winning 32% of the vote and are largest party in nine regions
3. The Lib Dems have 16 MEPs, up 15, with a nationwide 20% share of the vote
4. Labour have 10 MEPs, down by 10, and their vote share has fallen to 14%
5. The Green Party have won seven MEPs, up four, with 12% vote share
6. The Conservatives have four MEPs, down 15, and are in fifth place on 9% of the vote
7. Change UK have not won any seats, nor have UKIP
8. In Scotland, the SNP have three MEPs, Brexit Party one, Lib Dems one and Conservatives one
9. The Brexit Party dominated in Wales, with Plaid Cymru second
10. Counting to determine the results in Northern Ireland began at 08:00
11. Overall turnout is 37%

A bit of analysis from our Ireland correspondent

Scottish Labour MPs attack party leadership

Getty Images

Scottish Labour MPs Ian Murray and Martin Whitfield have attacked the party leadership over the European Parliament election results.

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard "stuck their heads in the Brexit sand because they can't lead", they wrote in the Scotsman.

"This was [their] manifesto, their message, their decision to ignore the membership and what voters were saying to us.

"It was their election campaign and their mess."

They added: "We have paid the price for their failure and we have been wiped off the electoral map."

Unite chief: 'Hold your nerve, Labour'

Len McCluskey, leader of Unite union, says Labour must stay united, and be ready to govern to "transform the country" - despite the party's poor Euro elections result.

He said the results showed a country divided by Brexit, adding: "For that the blame lies firmly with the Tory Party which has handled the Brexit process disastrously causing despair and disillusion among voters, driving many to (Nigel) Farage and his simplistic offer."

Mr McCluskey said Labour has been the only party that sought to unite the nation on Brexit.

"This is the time to hold our nerve because the true prize is the very real possibility of a looming general election," he added.

BBC

Sajid Javid enters Tory leadership race

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has announced he is standing to be the next leader of the Conservatives, and therefore prime minister.

"My message is simple: it's time to rebuild trust, to find unity and to create new opportunities for our country," he said in a video posted on Twitter.

"As last night's results made all too clear we must get on and deliver Brexit to ensure there is renewed trust in our democracy."

The story is 'pro remain' in Northern Ireland, says Sinn Fein

Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill says the significant story from this election is the "switch to remain".

"Now there are two pro-remain voices in the north of Ireland," she says.

BBC

She adds that the Irish republican party had encouraged voters to vote for the pro-remain candidates and that voters were encouraged to hear that Sinn Féin and other parties like the SDLP and Alliance were working together.

Counting in Northern Ireland began on Monday morning, with the first results expected later today.

Watch: Shadow chancellor calls for second EU referendum

The end of an era for the UUP?

'Quite a lot of pressure' on Labour leadership to clarify Brexit stance

The World at One

BBC Radio 4

The Daily Mirror's Pippa Crerar says there will be "quite a lot of pressure" on the Labour leadership to speak to party members again over Brexit.

The Sun's Tom Newton-Dunn says "these elections really don't matter that much" and it "clearly was a protest vote".

'We've said that we will respect the result of the referendum'

The World at One

BBC Radio 4

Labour's Laura Pidcock says "of course we could have done so much better" and says there is now a "period of reflection" for the party ahead.

"We've said that we will respect the result of the referendum" but that is "balanced against the reality of leaving an economic union that we have been a member of for so long".

There are times for when a second referendum would be necessary, such as if a "hard-right" Tory leader gets elected and seeks a no-deal Brexit.

"Jeremy Corbyn stands by the decision making process of the Labour Party," she adds, saying he is "a person that listens".

'There is no good version of Brexit'

The World at One

BBC Radio 4

The SNP's Drew Hendry says Westminster is a "huge problem at the moment" because of the "shambles" in the way Parliament has handled Brexit.

Westminster parties have failed to listen to Scotland in what they want from Brexit, he says.

"There is no good version of Brexit" he says, referring to the government's own analysis.

'Unacceptable' for Tories to move towards second referendum

The World at One

BBC Radio 4

Conservative MP Robert Halfon says the government hasn't been able to deliver Brexit because it lacks a parliamentary majority, and because of there being no good deal for the UK.

He says it is "unacceptable" for the party to pivot towards a second referendum.

"There is no doubt in my mind" that the public "want us to keep the promise and deliver Brexit", he states.

"I believe in doing what the people said.. I've come to the view that we have to do what the people wanted" in 2016, he says.

'People are now looking at us afresh'

The World at One

BBC Radio 4

Liberal Democrat Sir Ed Davey says Remain parties have now got 40% of the vote, while Brexit parties have received 35% of the vote.

"It gives us a lot of legitimacy for arguing" for a second referendum, he states.

"Corbyn's Labour now needs to step up to the plate," he adds.

"I think people are now looking at us afresh," he says, adding that the Lib Dems are now well-placed to win the London Mayoral election next year.

Westminster should 'seriously listen this time'

The World at One

BBC Radio 4

Brexit Party MEP Richard Tice says Westminster should "seriously listen this time".

Civil servants have led the UK to a "national humiliation," he says.

"We offer capable, competent negotiators who believe in what they're negotiating for," he says, responding to a question on how the Brexit Party can help with negotiations, as Nigel Farage has said the party should now do.

"We've just won a national election from a standing start."

Laura Kuenssberg on election results

The World at One

BBC Radio 4

The BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, says that this election will "focus minds" but not in the way Theresa May wants them to be focused. She says it is now likely that the Tory Party will choose a leader who wants to leave the EU at the end of October, "no matter what the economic cost".

Labour continues to be in a "dilemma" on whether or not to back another referendum or continue trying to find middle ground.

"We must be careful in reading directly across" and trying to extrapolate these results to a general election, as these have lower turnout and people vote differently than they do in general elections, she says.

These results are "not just a mid-term embarrassment for the Tories, this is meltdown" Labour should be "snapping at the heels" in order to secure a route to No 10, she states.

MEP urges Labour to 'wake up'

The UK's longest-serving MEP says Jeremy Corbyn should stop trying to "ride two horses" over Brexit and pick a clearer position.

David Martin had been a member of the European parliament for 35 years but lost his Scottish seat at the 23 May poll after the Labour vote collapsed.

Now, for the first time, the party will have no MEPs in Scotland and is facing its worst election result since 1910.

Mr Martin said this was because of a failure to take a clear Brexit stance.

BreakingPM reacts to Euro election results

Theresa May says the poll means MPs must back a deal to quit the EU.

'Moment of truth' for main parties

Norman Smith

Assistant political editor

Labour and Conservative parties are facing a moment of truth, clearly their existing strategies are not working.

On the Tory side now there will be colossal pressure to try to see off the threat of Nigel Farage by committing to leave on 31 October, come what may.

On the Labour side, we are seeing a real push now to get Jeremy Corbyn off the fence and to back the idea of another referendum.

We’ve heard from Emily Thornberry last night, Keir Starmer this morning, John McDonnell and Diane Abbott making similar remarks.

Mr Corbyn meanwhile is still on the fence – he’s as ambiguous as ever.

The brutal truth is it’s probably too early for him to make any substantive move but it will be very hard for him to stand by his existing position.

In the weeks ahead he is going to be slowly pushed towards backing another referendum, particularly if the Tory Party is going in the opposite direction of backing no deal.

UK results at a glance

Early observations from the count centre

Labour come in fifth in Scotland

The SNP comfortably topped the poll in the European elections in Scotland, taking nearly 38% of the vote and three seats.

The Brexit Party were second with nearly 15% and one seat.

The Lib Dems took one seat and the Tories took the final place.

Labour came fifth and lost their two MEPs.