Today is the election we were told would not be taking place.

The UK would leave the European Union on March 29.

There would be no need for us to take part in elections for the European Parliament nearly two months later.

Of course, things have not worked out that way.

The ongoing failure of MPs to agree a Brexit deal means the UK is still in the EU, which means it must still send MEPs to Brussels. MEPs usually sit for five years.

The more likely outcome is that those who triumph today will sit only until the next Brexit deadline of October 31, at the latest.

Perhaps they will have been and gone from Brussels within weeks if a deal can be agreed sooner, impossible though that seems given the deadlock at Westminster.

It is still probable that the UK’s new MEPs will not sit for long. Some anti-EU candidates have vowed not to take their seats at all.

Does this render today’s vote meaningless? Not at all. In a sense the vote will be an unofficial second Brexit referendum.

Most parties have an explicit pro-or anti-Brexit stance. Brexit divides the main parties as it divides the nation. Many will vote today for a party which mirrors their view, in the hope that a strong pro-or anti-Brexit vote will strengthen their position.