Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party was the clear winner in the UK’s European elections, with the pro-Europe Liberal Democrats claiming the second largest portion of the vote — a situation reflected in the South West results.

The Brexit Party topped the polls in every region of England outside London, while it also dominated in Wales. It has now become the joint largest national party in the European Parliament, alongside Germany’s CDU/CSU party.

In South West England, the Brexit Party got 36.71% of the vote in the region to earn three MEPs, Ann Widdecombe, James Glancy and Christina Jordan. Caroline Voaden and Martin Horwood were elected MEPs for the Liberal Democrats with 23.11% of the vote — a 12.41% gain compared to the last election — with Molly Scott Cato winning a seat for the Greens with 18.14% of the vote.

The vote meant that the Conservatives and UKIP both lost 2 MEPs in the region, while Labour lost one.

The Brexit Party’s 36.71% was slightly higher than their national average, where they won 32% of the overall vote. It was also a solid night for the pro-Europe Liberal Democrats, who took second place with 20% of the national vote. The Green Party also made gains, having its best performance since 1989.

The elections were dreadful for the Conservative Party, who fell to fifth place overall, while Labour fell to third place overall with less than 15% of the vote. The newly-formed Change UK won no seats, while UKIP lost the vast majority of its support to the Brexit Party.

National turnout was at just below 37% — the second highest in any European election in the UK, and the highest since 1994. In West Devon there was 45.89% turnout, the second highest in the region.

The election results have been the backdrop to the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa May, who announced last Friday (May 24) that she would resign on June 7 in an emotionally charged speech outside 10 Downing Street.

She had been under increasing pressure to resign following a backlash to her latest Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill among Conservative MPs and ministers.