"- Labour and UKIP rise in share of the vote was the "least best" i.e. it rose, but at the lowest rate
- Tory and Lib Dem drop in vote was the "least worst" i.e. it was down but at the lowest rate. Infact Tories were marginally up."
It's worth remembering that the last Euros were in 2009, at the peak of Labour's unpopularity before the general election. But they were never so unpopular in Scotland. They were coming from a lower base in England and Wales than they were in Scotland, so that difference is to be expected.
In terms of actual numbers of people showing up and putting an X beside Labour, they were up 75% in Scotland. They should be reasonably pleased with that. What should worry them though is losing to the SNP in places like West Lothian, Falkirk, Stirling, North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire. For them still to be losing in these places is unprecedented.
As for the Tories - they do best in Scotland in Euro elections. I think in part because they could be seen as standing up for Britain in a way no other party (until maybe Ukip) could have. But their voters turn out - as long as they're alive, they'll vote. So on a low turnout they'll do proportionately better.
You're right about the Lib Dems, there's a ray of hope there that they can hang on in their Highland fastness. Their share fell by a third, compared with half in the UK as a whole.
In the best council area for Ukip, Moray, they still did much worse than in their worst region in England. Scotland remains their toughest area. They'll think that, now they've got a toe-hold here, they'll have a presence and something from which to build. We'll see.
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