ELECTIONS to the European Parliament are very rarely about Europe.

National and local politics normally take over and domestic issues and campaigns take over.

The election on Thursday however, is being contested in unique circumstances, where MEPs are being chosen for a job they could be out of within weeks of being elected or they could yet serve the full term.

The election has become a vote on Brexit, three years after the referendum.

There are eight parties to chose from on Thursday, each with a view on leave or remain with opinions on no deal, on a people’s vote and also Scottish independence in the event of Brexit, to set them apart.

The parties have set out their campaigns on whether and how they want to leave the EU, have another referendum or stay in Europe no matter what.

Pro-remain are the SNP, Greens, LibDems and Change UK.

Pro-leave are the Conservatives, Ukip and the Brexit Party.

Labour wants to leave but with a re-negotiated agreed deal put to a public vote if necessary.

The SNP are on course for the biggest vote share in Scotland and the party says they want to stop Brexit.

The manifesto is clear and party leader, Nicola Sturgeon is appealing to remain voters in Scotland.

She said: “The SNP is Scotland’s voice for and in Europe. We will keep working with others across the UK to stop Brexit.

“We will support a People’s Vote that offers the option to remain and if the UK is heading for a no deal Brexit , we’ll back revoking article 50.”

The Greens said they want the vote to remain in Scotland to be respected. The party wants a second referendum with remain on the ballot paper

Patrick Harvie Green co-leader, said: “There is far more hope that we can cancel Brexit, stop this chaos and continue as part of the European family of nations.”

Change UK , formed of Labour and Conservative breakaway MPs wants a second referendum and said that there is no deal that is better than remaining in the EU.

Liberal Democrats want a People’s Vote and want to stop Brexit and remain in the EU.

Willie Rennie, Scottish party leader, said: “If those in favour of Theresa May’s deal, or any deal for that matter, believes in it and has confidence that it is the will of the people then put it to the people.

“If it’s so good you have nothing to fear.

“This is one of the biggest decisions that this country has ever faced. It is wrong to deprive the people of the final say.”

Labour wants to implement an alternative Brexit plan with the UK in a customs union with the EU and close alignment with the single market.

Labour Jeremy Corbyn, UK Labour leader, said: “And if we can’t get agreement along the lines of our alternative plan, or a general election, Labour backs the option of a public vote.”

On the leave side, respecting the 2016 referendum is the core argument.

The Conservatives want to do what the UK voted for and leave the EU but get Theresa May’s deal supported.

In Scotland it is also is playing to the 2014 no voters, opposing a second Scottish referendum, stating it is the only party that wants to respect the results of 2014 and 2016.

Scottish party leader, Ruth Davidson, said: “In 2016,17 and a half million people across the UK , including over a million in Scotland, voted to leave the EU. And it is only by respecting that vote that we can hope bring this country back together.”

Ukip also want to leave stating the 2016 referendum must be respected and the UK must leave the Europe and offer the EU a choice of tariff-free trade or leave with no deal.

The Brexit Party wants the UK to leave the EU with no deal and to not pay the almost £40bn settlement money to the EU.

Nigel Farage’s new party is tipped to be the biggest gainer in it’s first election and is on course to take one of the six seats in Scotland.

Voting in the UK opens at 7am on Thursday and closes at 10pm. Votes will not be counted however, until late on Sunday evening when all the polling stations across Europe have closed.

Then Scotland wide results will be declared.