THE Conservative party completed its election clean-sweep at the weekend by taking three seats at the European elections. Having made number of high-profile gains in the county council elections at the end of last week, the party were expectant of another

THE Conservative party completed its election clean-sweep at the weekend by taking three seats at the European elections.

Having made number of high-profile gains in the county council elections at the end of last week, the party were expectant of another bumper performance at the euro polls and achieved just that as it collected a staggering half a million votes, amounting to 30 per cent of the ballot overall.

Using the proportional representation voting system, the Conservatives were allocated three seats in the EU parliament with candidates Geoffrey Van Orden, Vicky Ford and Robert Sturdy nominated to fill the posts.

Euro-sceptics UKIP, meanwhile were celebrating after it held on to its two seats in the region, keeping it ahead of both the Liberal Democrats and Labour. David Campbell-Bannerman and John Agnew were elected to fill the two allocated seats.

The bad news continued for the Labour party meanwhile as it came in a dismal fourth place behind UKIP and the Liberal Democrats, collecting just one seat with 10.5 per cent of the vote.