A Labour politician has seen his chances of becoming an MEP significantly boosted.
Deputy mayor of Leicester Rory Palmer is one of the party's five East Midlands candidates in May's election and has spent recent months seeking the support of members across the region.
They have been voting to rank the candidates in the order they will appear on the ballot paper.
Yesterday, it was revealed Coun Palmer topped the ballot and will therefore be ranked second, behind sitting MEP Glenis Willmott.
Voters in European elections choose a political party rather than individuals and MEPs are then elected based on the proportion of the vote received by each party across the region.
Coun Palmer said: "I am delighted to have topped the poll and now we have to set about campaigning to get as many Labour MEPs as possible.''
Should Coun Palmer win a seat in Brussels he will have to step down from his £50,000-a-year post as Sir Peter Soulsby's deputy and as ward councillor for Eyres Monsell.
However, he has told party colleagues he intended to keep those positions for the "foreseeable future".
Leicester Conservatives and some Labour colleagues have questioned whether he can campaign effectively and maintain his current jobs.
He said: "For the foreseeable future it is my intention to continue my work with a full portfolio as deputy city mayor.
"As we get closer to the election next May, I will obviously review this and do so in discussion with Peter."
Labour's other candidates, Linda Woodings, Khalid Hadadi and Nicki Brooks, will appear on the ballot paper in that order.