What does the European election manifesto of each party say about Brexit?

Politics Explained: The unexpected elections are shaping up to be about only one thing

The elections that many thought – or hoped – would never occur are nearly upon us.

Seventy-three British MEPs will be elected to represent the 12 UK electoral regions at the European parliament for what is likely to be an uncertain tenure.

The contest is taking place only because Theresa May was unable to deliver Brexit on time, pushing the UK’s potential departure date back to October and forcing the UK to take part in the European elections.

Concerns about Europe typically dominate these elections, and this year will be no exception, with voters on all sides likely to express their frustrations at the handling of Brexit.

Ms May’s failure to get Brexit done have put the Tories on a shaky electoral footing, while Labour’s attempts to appeal to both camps could come back to bite them.

Nigel Farage’s insurgent Brexit Party is currently soaring in the polls, at the expense of Ukip and the Tories.

Meanwhile, the smaller parties such as the Liberal Democrats, Change UK and the Greens are all fighting for the Remain vote.

So what are their messages?

The Tories have not published a manifesto or launched their campaign officially – as this election is a symbol of the government’s failure to take the UK out of the EU on 29 March.

Ms May’s party has sent a leaflet to voters saying the Conservatives are the only ones who can “get Brexit done”, while accusing the other parties of trying to overturn the referendum result or offering pie-in-the-sky ideas.

Labour has tried to appeal to both sides in “Transforming Britain and Europe”, saying the divisions in the country are between the ordinary workers and the wealthy elite rather than Leave and Remain.

On Brexit, it maintains its carefully constructed compromise to offer a fresh referendum if it can’t win support for its alternative plan or a general election.

The pro-referendum parties are scrapping over much of the same ground in their manifestos.

Change UK pledges to campaign for a referendum with remaining in the EU on the ballot paper and to fight to ensure any Brexit deal has a confirmatory vote attached.

The document, entitled “Charter for Remain”, pledges to keep freedom of movement and to use membership of the EU to push for change on domestic and international issues.

The Liberal Democrats attracted attention with their “Bollocks to Brexit” special edition manifesto. Ordinary voters will receive a less crude version, simply entitled ”Stop Brexit”.

The party also supports a Final Say vote with Remain as an option, as well as freedom of movement.

The Greens put a second referendum at the heart of their document, ”Right Now. For the Future”, promising to mobilise ”a positive, pro-European movement to win”.

Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP makes the case for Scotland to stay as part of the EU, rather than “being dragged out against its will”.

On the other side of the divide, the Brexit Party is arguing for a no-deal exit, which it calls a WTO (World Trade Organisation) departure.

It wants its MEPs to be part of the negotiations and says it will refuse to pay the UK’s £39bn divorce bill.

Ukip wants an “unconditional Brexit” and vows its MEPs will vote against all EU legislation if they take their seats.