B.A.Ware

It has been said on another thread that prospective MEP's are required to sign up to the IDG to become a candidate, i have had one confirmation that this is true but no source.

If this is true i think it is totally out of order whether it is enforceable or not, it make me wonder if it has something to do with Roger Knapeman thinking about leaving the group.

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We’re not just about Europe.

chikrodah

An interesting scenario would be:

1. A number of MEP candidates in a given region all sign the undertaking to be part of the IDG group.
2. Those MEPs get elected.
3. They then resign en masse from the IDG.

What procedures are in place to either prevent them from resigning (presumably for a reason not covered in the application packs) or to prevent them from becoming an independent MEP a la Mote or Kilroy Silk?

Mark Croucher

I can not believe that MEPs would have to sign up to IDG, as I believe it technically ceases to exist when the EP is prorogued.

There is nothing which can be done to prevent MEPs resigning the whip, the party or the group. Nor can they be forced to keep their promises: ISTR that Mote had stated that he would resign should he be found guilty, and yet that statement is not legally enforceable. The problem is dubious legislation, as was raised by UKIP at the time: MEPs (and, indeed, London Assembly members) are elected not personally, but on a party list, and therefore the seat should belong not to the person elected but to the party. Unfortunately, there is no mechanism for removing them from their elected position, and the government ignored representations along these lines from UKIP when it introduced the legislation. Hence, Kilroy-Silk, Mote, Hockney and Hulme-Cross hang on to seats they were not elected to personally.

Rgds

M

Anthony Butcher

I would say that it is entirely to do with that. Whether it is out of order or not... I don't know. Is it unreasonable for a party leader to put in place mechanisms to ensure loyalty?

Admittedly it looks very weak if you have to bully people into agreeing like this, rather than convincing them on the merits of the group. Indeed I would say that this move should really bring into question the benefits of IDG; if the existing MEPs can't agree on how useful it is...

It smacks of desperation to me; it is the action of someone who can't guarantee loyalty through personal charisma or reasoned argument. But then, I might be reading far too much into it

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Clive Page

Can I just knock this on the head before it runs out of control.
Prospective EU candidates DO NOT have to sign anything that says they must agree to being a member of the INd Dem group.
In the next Parliament it may not exist or exist in another form.
So the answer is they DO NOT have to sign anything.
Hope this helps.
Regards Clive

B.A.Ware

Thank you Clive issue resolved.

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Geoffrey Collier

If a prospective MEP candidate is not prepared to give that, 'signing-up' undertaking, could he/she still be selected for the Party List? If the answer is yes, what purpose is served by the, 'signing up' clause? Should the answer be no; that, 'signing up' becomes a vital mechanism for the candidates' selection. Are the NEC desperately trying to precipitate a split in the Party?
What on earth is going on?

Raymond Finch

Geoffrey Collier.
Look two messages up from your own.
Nobody has to sign.
It is just a ruse put up by the enemies of the party.

Anthony Butcher

It was Geoffrey who first made the claim

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douglas denny

Teach you (and me) to listen to Geoffrey.

I am aware all prospective candidates are expected to sign a declaration of intent, comittment and disclosure. I assumed Geoffrey knew what he was talking about. Silly b... me.

DED.
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