The European Parliament Election, 1979 was the first European election to be held in the United Kingdom after the European Community decided to directly elect representatives to the European Parliament. Other elections were held in eight other EC states. European elections were incorporated into UK law by European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978. Out of the 410 members of the European Parliament, 81 were elected from the UK. The electoral system was First Past the Post in England, Scotland and Wales (electing 78 MEPs in total) and Single Transferable Vote in Northern Ireland to elect 3 MEPs.
The elections were a landslide victory for the Conservative Party, winning 60 of the 78 seats available in England, Wales and Scotland. The other effect of another landslide victory, the general election, a month earlier in May and divisions within the Labour on whether to stay in the EC probably helped the Conservatives to such a comprehensive victory. There was a very low turnout in the election compared with states, the lowest in Europe. Voter apathy was an explanation, but it is likely the large number of elections in 1979 had a significant negative effect on turnout. There were referendums in Scotland and Wales on devolution in March and the general election in May, as well as local elections in England (not including London) and Wales.
Overall (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) turnout: 32.7% (EC average: 63%)
The debating chamber, the 'hemicycle' of the EuropeanParliament in Brussels.
Although Brussels is generally treated as the 'capital' of the European Union, and the two institutions of the EU's executive, the Commission and the Council of Ministers, both have their seats there, a protocol attached to the Treaty of Amsterdam requires that the EuropeanParliament have monthly sessions in Strasbourg.
As of October 8, 2005 the composition of the EuropeanParliament was:
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