In the 2004 European election, the Green Party increased its share of the vote from 5.3% in 1999 to 5.45% in 2004 (in the City of Leicester itself, the Green vote went up to 6.0%). With the increased turnout, this means that many more people voted Green.

Nationally, the Green vote held steady and we kept our two MEPs. This was despite a disturbing swing towards celebrity politics and towards single-issue and extreme right-wing parties.

East Midlands results:

• BNP 6.5% ( + 5.2%) (a disgraceful result for the East Midlands)
  
• Conservative 26.4% ( -13.1%) 2 MEPs
  
• Green 5.5% ( + 0.15%)
  
• Labour 21.0% ( -7.6%) 1 MEP
  
• Lib Dem 12.9% ( + 0.2%) 1 MEP
  
• Respect 1.4%
  
• UKIP 26.1% ( +18.5%) 2 MEPs (a descent to the politics of the playground)