Populists eye upsets as Brexit-bound UK, Netherlands open EU elections

Voters in Brexit-bound Britain cast ballots Thursday at the start of 28-nation EU elections in which Eurosceptic, anti-immigration forces have vowed a political earthquake to shake up the Brussels establishment.

With Prime Minister Theresa May's resignation appearing imminent after she postponed a forlorn attempt to push her divorce deal through parliament, Britain joined the Netherlands in kicking off four days of voting across the continent.

The elections were a surreal spectacle in a country that was supposed to have already left the European Union after voting for Brexit in a referendum almost three years ago.

The Brexit crisis mirrored deep divisions across the continent, where rising anti-establishment forces are bidding to make significant gains in the elections.

More than 400 million European voters are eligible to elect 751 European Parliament members, with the first results expected late Sunday once voting in the 28 member states is over.

Having opted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum, Britain was originally meant to depart on March 29 and not take part in the election.

But MPs have rejected May's withdrawal agreement and the country now finds itself electing lawmakers to an institution it plans to leave.

The issue looked set to dominate how Britons vote.

"It's been disgraceful the way the government has gone on," said Brexit Party supporter Chris Fetherstone, 73, in the northern English town of Middlesbrough.

"What Theresa May has said, about leaving, she's never meant it."
Voting in the Scottish city of Glasgow, Rex Taylor, a 79-year-old retired professor, said: "We've been let down by both of the main parties."
"A whole range of political forces have risen up in spectacular fashion."