Tamil 'Stop Genocide' candidate secures record results

A Tamil rights campaigner won more than 50,000 votes in the European elections - making her one of the most successful independent candidates ever.

an Jananayagam gained more votes than some political parties in the London region and more than all the other independents in the UK put together.

Independents have traditionally had a hard time making their voices heard in British elections - particularly at the European polls, which use a closed "party list" system.

Jan Jananayagam gained 2.3% of the vote in the London region, where she was standing.

Singer MIA urged her fans to vote for Ms Jananayagam

That was more than established parties such as the English Democrats, the trade union-backed No2EU, the Socialist Labour Party, Libertas and Jury Team, a new umbrella group for Independents, all of which were running national campaigns and had the benefit of party political broadcasts.

“We were able to build strong networks with many British political groups and other communities in London, relationships that will strengthen our future advocacy work,” a student leader said.

The theme of ‘stopping genocide’ had struck a special cord with Jewish voters, some of whom also made welcome financial contributions towards the campaigns costs, he said.

Other minority communities had declared their support for Ms. Jananayagam and her campaign goals via their media, they said.