The UK Independence Party has made substantial gains in the European elections, while Labour and the Conservatives have lost out.

With results declared from 11 of the 12 UK regions, the Conservatives had taken a 26.7 per cent share of the vote, compared to 22.6 per cent for Labour.

By midday on Monday just Northern Ireland was left to reveal the results.

By this stage the UKIP was in third place on 16.1, while the Liberal Democrats were on 14.9 per cent. The Green Party was in fifth place with a 6.3 per cent showing.

The strong UKIP vote saw the anti-EU party boost its representation in the European parliament.

Gains

The number of British MEPs has been reduced by nine following the EU's enlargement, and allowing for that change the UKIP had gained an extra 10 seats to hold 12.

Among the gainers for the UKIP was former TV star Robert Kilroy-Silk.

Michael Howard's Conservatives were down eight seats to take 27, while Labour lost six seats to take 19.

The Lib Dems gained two to hold a total of 12 seats, while the Greens took two seats.

In Scotland the SNP took two seats and Plaid Cymru held on to its single seat in Wales.

In London, Respect candidate George Galloway failed in his bid to become an MEP.

And in the Eastern region, former independent MP Martin Bell also failed to gain a seat in the Brussels parliament.

Leadership

The results spell bad news for all the major parties.

His leadership again in the spotlight, the results are unwelcome for Tony Blair. 

With Labour's support running at just over 20 per cent, the Iraq factor and its backing for an EU constitution appears to have hit the party hard.

The prime minister was expected to admit that his party has suffered when he addresses a meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party later on Monday.

He will also concede that Iraq cast a shadow over the elections when he addresses the media for the monthly Number 10 press conference on Tuesday.

The prime minister is expected to mount a fresh attempt to boost the domestic agenda.

However some expect that Blair may press ahead with a significant summer reshuffle in a bid to draw a line in the sand following the election blues.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have seen the UKIP eat into their share of the vote. And although they have gained the largest percentage support, they also lost the largest number of MEPs.

And while the Lib Dems can point to two new MEPs and an increased share of the vote from the 1999 elections, they will be embarrassed to have dropped into fourth place overall.