22ANDUK

The implementation of the Lisbon Treaty will have dramatic consequences for the UK. One such will be the effect it has on the value of British politics and its elected representatives.
What we can be sure of will be greater and even more powers handed over to Brussels and European bodies.

Now I do not want to explore too much the worth of the European Parliament. However the legislative body of the European Union, the home of the Member of the European Parliament (MEP), could be the battleground of Britain in the future.

Assuming the Treaty goes ahead, and starts the process of more and greater loss of British sovereignty, than an MP in the House of Commons will serve a purely 'regional' role - performing only a symbolic ratification of already passed and agreed European legislation.

However with MEPs there is a chance. The real fight may begin with obtaining the maximum number of MEPs possible, and more so linking up with those MEPs of similar parties of other nations to form 'super-blocs' to unite and fight the EU.

Whilst this occurs currently, a future EU (of perhaps only a few years time) will have stronger powers and a stronger European Parliament, making this a more potent idea.

Surely then, whilst for UKIP and similar parties, gaining MPs would do no harm, the real long term strength of a party will be its representation in the European Parliament?

Gaining the elected members would by-pass the restrictive First Past the Post system and under the Proportional Representation system allow smaller, anti-EU parties to proliferate the European legislature.

Once the real power has been ceded to Brussels the need and urge to gain as many MEPs as possible will begin.