The third direct elections saw Labour top the poll with 39% of the vote, gaining 13 seats at the Conservative's expense. While Labour jumped to 45 seats, the Conservatives fell to 32. The 1989 elections also saw a spectacular outcome for the Green Party which took over 14.5 per cent of the overall vote, though the first-past-the post system denied them any seats.
In Northern Ireland, Ian Paisley topped the poll with 29.6% of the vote, with John Hume in second place with 25.2%. Jim Nicholson took the third seat for the Official Unionist Party with 22% of the vote. Provisional Sinn Fein's share of the vote fell to 9.1%.
Table of Results: United Kingdom
|
Party
|
Votes
|
% of poll
|
MEPs
|
| Labour |
6,153,640
|
39
|
45
|
| Conservative |
5,331,077
|
33
|
32
|
| Green |
2,292,705
|
14.5
|
-
|
| SDP - Liberal Alliance |
986,292
|
6.2
|
-
|
| Scottish National Party |
406,686
|
2.6
|
1
|
| Plaid Cymru |
115,062
|
0.7
|
-
|
| Democratic Unionist |
160,110
|
1.0
|
1
|
| SDLP |
136,335
|
0.86
|
1
|
| OUP |
118,785
|
0.75
|
1
|
|
Total Electorate:
|
43,710,568
|
||
|
Votes:
|
15,827,417
|
||
|
Turnout (UK):
|
36.2 %
|