European elections kick off in Britain Europe's mammoth parliamentary elections kicked off on Thursday, with Britain and the Netherlands going to the polls in a vote that is expected to see a swing towards populist right-wing parties. The elections, which are spread over four days in the EU's 28 member states, are set to produce major gains for parties bent on dismantling the European Union from the inside. Polls opened at 0600 GMT in Britain. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES of voters in Sevenoaks, UK.