Labour faces key test on polling day

May 9 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

THE North East heads to the polls on June 4 as Euro MP and elected Mayor positions are once again up for grabs.

Voters will be asked to choose the region’s three MEPs and decide who the next mayor of North Tyneside will be.

Gordon Brown is believed to have been told to expect a tough time in the polls, and a Tory victory in North Tyneside could lead to rebel backbench MPs preparing for a leadership contest.

Added to Labour’s woes is the threat of the United Kingdom Independent Party and the British National Party, which are targeting voters in the European elections.

Both have to some degree taken votes from dissatisfied Labour supporters. In Hartlepool UKIP was the second placed party, with 94,000 votes in the 2004 European elections.

The BNP won 50,000 votes in the last election and there are fears that at least one MEP position will be secured in the North.

There are 35 candidates from 12 parties standing in the European election. Of those, seven are from outside the region.

Currently the North East is represented by Stephen Hughes for Labour, Martin Callanan for the Conservatives and Fiona Hall for the Liberal Democrats.

All three sitting MEPs are standing for re-election.

Voters will be asked to choose the party they want to back, and this party then selects its winner.

A system of proportional representation means seats are divided up based on the amount of votes each party receives, so an MEP can be elected without securing the majority of votes.