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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics
Sean Morrison

Ukip results: Gerard Batten's party loses all of it's MEPs at European elections as support completely collapses

A Ukip candidate observes the count of votes for the European Parliament election UK South East Region at the Civic Centre Southampton. The party lost all of its MEPs in the vote. (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Ukip has lost all of its MEPs in the European Parliament, despite topping the voting figures in 2014.

The pro-Leave party's support collapsed completely after the insurgent Brexit Party came top of the polls in England and Wales, picking up 28 MEPs.

Ukip leader Gerard Batten lost his seat in London, which he had held since 2004.

The party's controversial candidate YouTuber Carl Benjamin, who was second on the party's South West regional list, also failed to get elected.

Mr Benjamin was condemned during the campaign for comments he made about Labour MP Jess Phillips.

The 39-year-old, who styles himself online as the "Sargon of Akkad", said he "wouldn't even rape" the Labour MP and then refused to apologise for the remarks.

In the 2014 EU elections, Ukip stormed into pole position with 28 MEPs, up 11 from 2009.

However, following a series of defections, the party went into this year's elections defending only three of the seats it had won five years ago.

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