VOTERS also went to the polls last Thursday to choose their representatives for the European Parliament.

In the South West region, the six candidates elected were: Mr Giles Chichester (Cons); Mr Bernard Trevor Coleman (UKIP); Mr Graham Watson (Lib Dem); Mrs Julie McCulloch Girling (Cons); Mr William Dartmouth (UKIP) and Mr Ashley Peter Fox (Cons).

The amount of votes cast for each party were as follows: British National Party — 60,889; Christian Party — 21, 329; Conser­vative Party — 468,742; English Democrats Party — 25,313; Fair Pay Fair Trade Party — 7,151; Jury Team — 5,758; Liberal Democrats — 266,253; Mebyon Kernow — 14,922; No2EU: Yes to Democracy — 9,741; Pensioners Party — 47,785; Pro Democracy: Libertas.eu — 7,292; Socialist Labour Party — 10,033; The Green Party — 144,179; The Labour Party — 118,716; United Kingdom Independence Party — 341,845; Wai D — 789; Independent: Katie Olivia Hopkins — 8,971.

The South West Conservatives secured a significant result in the elections, gaining one seat to send three MEPs to Brussels.

Giles Chichester, Julie Girling and Ashley Fox were among those elected to serve the region after the Conservatives secured 30 per cent of the vote in the South West.

In contrast, Labour polled only eight per cent of the vote — down seven per cent compared to 2004 — ensuring that the party now has no representation in Brussels, with Glyn Ford losing his seat. The Labour Party came fifth overall in the South West – behind the Conservatives, UKIP, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

With the Treaty of Nice reducing the number of seats in the UK from 78 seats in 2004 to 72 (owing to the enlargement of the European Union), the South West region's representation in Brussels was reduced from seven to six.

As the Conservatives took the seventh seat in 2004, the results meant that the party gained one seat — the best performance across the country. Giles, Julie and Ashley will be joined by two UKIP and one Liberal Democrat MEPs.

Speaking after the results were declared Mr Chichester said: "This was a significant result for the Conservative Party here in the South West. While Labour is in chaos the Conservatives have secured strong support, from Stroud to West Dorset and Cornwall. What these results indicate is not only that this is clearly time for change but, more significantly that this government has lost the trust of the people of the South West.

"I'm delighted to have seen the Conservatives do better than five years ago, gaining an additional seat, and look forward to welcoming both Julie Girling and Ashley Fox to the European Parliament. I would also like to offer my congratulations to UKIP on retaining their two seats and I would have liked to congratulate Graham Watson on retaining his Lib Dem seat, had he been present at the declaration in Poole."