The European parliamentary elections – the elections politicians weren’t even expecting to fight.
And let’s face it, no one is voting for their favourite potential MEP, this is all about one thing – Brexit.
The UK wasn’t even supposed to still be in the EU on Thursday but with parliament *still* deadlocked over the PM’s deal, Britain is being forced to partake anyway.
Inevitably, the elections have become a battleground for Brexit, with each party using them as a platform for their views on how – and if – the UK should leave the EU.
But if the campaign trail has passed you by (or you have been actively trying to avoid it), never fear – it’s not too late to brush up on what the parties are actually promising.
Here’s HuffPost UK’s guide to everything you need to know before the ballots open on May 23.
Brexit Party
LEADER: Nigel Farage
SLOGAN: ‘Change politics for good’
MAIN MANIFESTO MESSAGE: Westminster can’t be trusted with Brexit – the Brexit Party will push for a no-deal Brexit and will refuse to pay the £39 billion divorce bill to the EU.
NOTABLE CANDIDATES: Former Tory MP Ann Widdecome, businessman Richard Tice and Jacob Rees-Mogg’s elaborately-named sister Annunziata.
DESCRIPTION: Led by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage and fueled by a strong pro-Brexit message, the Brexit Party has risen quickly to become a real threat to Labour and the Tories in these elections.
According to party leadership, more than 100,000 people have become registered to become members in the past six weeks. However, the Brexit Party’s finances have come under scrutiny in recent days, with questions being asked about whether foreign and/or untraceable donations had been accepted.
Labour Party
LEADER: Jeremy Corbyn
SLOGAN: ‘Transforming Britain and Europe: for the many not the few’
MAIN MANIFESTO MESSAGE: Brits should stop thinking of themselves as ‘leave’ or ‘remain’ voters – let’s forget our differences over Brexit and focus on tackling inequality in society.
NOTABLE CANDIDATES: Former transport secretary and Labour peer Andrew Adonis and Eloise Todd, the CEO of the anti-Brexit group Best for Britain.
DESCRIPTION: Unlike other parties, Labour has sat on the fence over Brexit during this election campaign. Unwilling to offer a strong ‘leave’ or ‘remain’ message, Corbyn has tried to appeal to voters on both sides of the divide. However, the Labour leadership has frustrated many of its own MPs by failing to offer a clear message on whether it backs a second referendum or not.
Lib Dems
LEADER: Vince Cable
SLOGAN: ‘Bollocks to Brexit’
MAIN MANIFESTO MESSAGE: Remaining in the EU is the best thing for the UK’s economy, public services and the environment – the Lib Dems will push for a people’s vote and ultimately to stop Brexit.
NOTABLE CANDIDATES: South East MEP Catherine Bearder and former Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood.
DESCRIPTION: The 2014 Euro elections weren’t great for the Lib Dems – under then-leader Nick Clegg, the party lost all but one of its 11 MEPs. However, things are looking up for the Lib Dems this time around, polling second behind the Brexit Party in a number of surveys.
As an anti-Brexit party demanding a second referendum in no uncertain terms, the Lib Dems are expected to attract a number of pro-remain voters – including many of those who might traditionally vote for the Labour Party.
Conservative Party
LEADER: Theresa May
SLOGAN: ‘The only party that can get Brexit done is the Conservative Party’
MAIN MANIFESTO MESSAGE: Despite the delay to UK’s exit date, the Tories are the only party who can actually get Brexit done – vote for the Conservative Party to show you want to get Brexit over and done with.
NOTABLE CANDIDATES: Journalist and current MEP Daniel Hannan, plus London MEP Syed Kamall.
DESCRIPTION: It’s fair to say that it hasn’t been the best European election campaign for the Tories. With Brexit now delayed by months and Theresa May’s Brexit deal stuck in a parliamentary deadlock, many of the party’s pro-Brexit voters are expected to vent their frustrations by backing Farage’s Brexit Party.
Election night is unlikely to be a cheery affair for May and her team – with the Conservative Party regularly ranking in fifth behind the Green Party, the results are expected to come as a blow.
Green Party
LEADER: Sian Berry and Jonathan Bartley
SLOGAN: ‘Right now. For the future.’
MAIN MANIFESTO MESSAGE: We need a second referendum, to remain in the EU and to re-energise the fight against climate change.
NOTABLE CANDIDATES: Two lord mayors – Sheffield’s Magid Magid and his Bristol colleague Cleo Lake.
DESCRIPTION: The Green Party has offered a strong pro-remain voice during the election campaign and is expected to split much of the anti-Brexit vote with the Lib Dems.
Change UK
LEADER: Heidi Allen
SLOGAN: ‘It’s time for change. Vote for Change UK.’
MAIN MANIFESTO MESSAGE: WhileBritish politics is broken, Change UK is united in putting the country first. Vote Change UK for a people’s vote and to remain in the European Union.
NOTABLE CANDIDATES: Former Newsnight presenter Gavin Esler, BoJo’s sister Rachel Johnson and Jan Vincent-Rostowski, the former deputy prime minister of Poland.
DESCRIPTION: Compared to the Brexit Party, Change UK has had a bumpy start – from ‘funny tinge’ comments to confusion over the party’s name. In the polls, Heidi Allen and her party have failed to gain the kind of pro-remain following they were hoping for.
However, voters could be persuaded to vote for Change UK after party spokesman Chuka Umunna said on Sunday that the UK must not only hold a second referendum – but revoke Article 50 all together.
