With no majority expected, EU set for grand alliance

Centre-right conservative parties are expected to remain the biggest political group in the European Parliament, with Ireland among the eight countries where they will be returned.

However, they are forecast to be one of the biggest losers of vote share, shedding one-fifth of their seats to retain 217. The Socialists will be returned by six countries, seeing a slight increase in their vote and taking 201 seats.

But neither party will have the majority of 376 MEPs necessary and none of the smaller groups will have enough seats to hold the balance.