VOTERS are going to the polls in European and Kent County Council elections which could hasten Gordon Brown's departure from Number 10.

The Prime Minister is braced for disastrous results after recent opinion polls suggesting support for Labour is at record low levels.

With Mr Brown already under intense pressure after a string of resignations from his Government, poor election results will embolden rebels agitating for his exit.

Polling stations across the News Shopper area opened at 7am today and will see streams of people exercising their right to vote throughout the day until they close at 10pm.

Results for the Kent Council elections are due tomorrow, while the European results are not expected until Sunday night after polls close in countries elsewhere in Europe.

A YouGov survey for a national paper suggested that, in elections to the European Parliament, Labour could finish behind the anti-EU UK Independence Party (Ukip).

It said that, among people certain to vote, Labour support stood at just 16 per cent, behind the Tories on 26 per cent and Ukip on 18 per cent.

The Lib Dems were on 15 per cent, the Greens on 10 per cent and the far-right British National Party (BNP) on five per cent - enough to give it its first seat in Brussels.

Ukip, the BNP and the Greens have been tipped to capitalise on the public backlash against the major parties that have been caught at the centre of the MPs' expenses scandal.


Who will you be voting for in today’s elections? Has the expenses scandal made you change your mind about which party to vote for? Have your say below.