Green Party pushes Tories into fifth place in UK European election race as it more than doubles tally of MEPs

The Green Party has more than doubled its tally of MEPs and pushed the Tories into fifth place in the UK's European election race.

Caroline Lucas, the party's only MP, hailed the "tremendous" result as part of a "Green wave sweeping across the EU", as seven Green MEPs were elected.

The party's share of the vote increased by 4.6 per cent to 12.47 per cent, putting the party in fourth place, comfortably ahead of the Tories on 8.81 per cent.

It trailed behind the first-place Brexit Party, second-place Liberal Democrats and Labour, which came fourth.

Ms Berry, co-leader of the Green Party, said: "Our message of 'yes to Europe, no to climate change' clearly resonated strongly with voters, many of whom will have been casting their vote for our party for the first time.

"We topped the poll in Bristol, Norwich and Brighton and Hove, and scored brilliant seconds in Sheffield, Cambridge and Oxford. "

She added: "There is clear evidence from this of strong support for the UK remaining in the European Union, but also for tackling the causes of Brexit - the massive damage done to so many communities by austerity, tax-dodging and diminution of workers' rights."

Green parties also fared well in other parts of the EU, including in Germany, where they were on course to take second place, and in Ireland, where the party's candidate Ciaran Cuffe topped the poll in the Dublin constituency.

Co-leader of the party Sian Berry said the success of the Greens was thanks to its message of "yes to Europe, no to climate change" resonating with voters.

The party won its first seats the Eastern, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber regions as well as holding onto seats in London, the South East and the South West.

Ms Lucas, the party's former leader, said the surge in votes for the Greens and the Lib Dems showed that the voice of Remainers must be heard.

"The clear indication is those parties that made it their business to say our future is better off in the EU did better than the hard Brexiteers.

"Let's make sure that is what people hear loud and clear."