Some elements of protest vote but mainly because a heck of a lot of people were pissed off by the venal nature of the mainstream parties so they stayed at home and gave the elections to the dedicated fascists of the BNP; who have been planning for years and just waiting for such an opportunity.

Take the two EU seats - Nazi Nick in NW England polled 8% of the vote and Andrew Brons in Humberside got 9.6% of the vote. Hardly a convincing electoral smash is it?

In Humberside the labour vote was 56% down on 2004 levels. The stay-at-home factor. Well done UK voters!