UKIP attacks EU Justice Plan

gawain · 03-09-2008, 06:31 PM

BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | EU trial in absence plan defended

British subjects could also be extradited automatically at the request of other EU states under the proposals.

Ministers say it will prevent them fleeing to other member states to escape justice and increase co-operation between legal systems.

But the Conservatives and UKIP say it undermines a fundamental principle of British justice.

Under the EU plan, courts would be allowed to pass judgement in criminal cases and when issuing fines or European Arrest Warrants without the defendants being present.

People accused in their absence would then have the right to a retrial or the right of appeal when extradited.

The plan was backed by the European Parliament by 609 votes to 60 and now goes to the Council of Ministers for final approval.
...

Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, said the plan removed basic rights long enshrined in British law.

"If we're accused we must be able to know who accused us. If we are to be tried for a crime we must be able to mount a defence.

"Yet now we can be dragged away to another country to rot in jail without there even being a pretence of a fair trial."

Mr Farage added: "If other European nations want to adopt our own higher protections, our greater civil liberties, then they are of course quite free to, without EU compulsion.

"But why should we destroy our own freedoms just to fit in with them?"

Aardvark · 03-09-2008, 06:52 PM

Good publicity for UKIP. Was your press release/liaison included Gawain?

SponPlague · 03-09-2008, 07:13 PM

Nice piece.

devilskitchen · 03-09-2008, 09:37 PM

Erm, borrowing a log in as I'm away from the computer with the correct one.

Gawain and I worked on that one. Not too shabby for day two of the partnership I hope?

Tim W

SponPlague · 03-09-2008, 09:40 PM

Well done :-)

gawain · 04-09-2008, 02:33 AM

Tim is being way too kind. That was his work with a very small - where are the figures? type input.

L & G, methink you might have an effective press officer

SponPlague · 04-09-2008, 10:10 AM

Is it true that 4 Ind-Dem MEPs - Messrs. Belder, Blokland (both Dutch), Dahl (Danish), and Wochiewski (Polish) - support the plan?

Barboo · 04-09-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SponPlague

Is it true that 4 Ind-Dem MEPs - Messrs. Belder, Blokland (both Dutch), Dahl (Danish), and Wochiewski (Polish) - support the plan?

More than that, it would seem.

The BBC News item at the start of this thread stated: "The plan was backed by the European Parliament by 609 votes to 60".

The report which produced this 609/60 result was voted on in the EP on Tuesday 2 September and was by Armando Franca (A6-0285/2008). Seven of UKIP's Ind/Dem colleagues voted in favour of it - Belder, Blokland and Wojciechowski (not Dahl), plus Couteaux, Louis, de Villiers (French) and Georgiou (Greek). Zelezny abstained, and another six Ind/Dems voted against the report with six of UKIP's MEPs (Knapman and Whittaker were not present).

SponPlague · 04-09-2008, 05:17 PM

Thanks, Barboo - a source of mine comments as follows:

Quote:

Well done Barboo for picking that one up! There were several reports in the area of justice that were voted on on Tuesday - I concentrated on Kaufman as I considered it to be the most imortant. 7 Ind Dem MEPs did indeed vote for the Fanca report, which is actually more relevant to the UKIP statement on the website.

All UKIP MEPs (With or without party whip) voted against.

Mr Zelezney, the Czech member, abstained.

The bulk of Tories did vote against, but some supported this proposal, exposing the split within the Conservative delegation in the EP.

Whereas UKIP MEPs voting lists are prepared by UKIP staff in Brussels/Strasbourg, the Tories rely on Central Office to send voting lists through from London. The fact that there is now a difference in voting patterns within the Conservative delegation shows clearly how fractured that party is.

03-09-2008, 06:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
gawain Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 279	UKIP attacks EU Justice Plan BBC NEWS \| UK \| UK Politics \| EU trial in absence plan defended British subjects could also be extradited automatically at the request of other EU states under the proposals. Ministers say it will prevent them fleeing to other member states to escape justice and increase co-operation between legal systems. But the Conservatives and UKIP say it undermines a fundamental principle of British justice. Under the EU plan, courts would be allowed to pass judgement in criminal cases and when issuing fines or European Arrest Warrants without the defendants being present. People accused in their absence would then have the right to a retrial or the right of appeal when extradited. The plan was backed by the European Parliament by 609 votes to 60 and now goes to the Council of Ministers for final approval. ... Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, said the plan removed basic rights long enshrined in British law. "If we're accused we must be able to know who accused us. If we are to be tried for a crime we must be able to mount a defence. "Yet now we can be dragged away to another country to rot in jail without there even being a pretence of a fair trial." Mr Farage added: "If other European nations want to adopt our own higher protections, our greater civil liberties, then they are of course quite free to, without EU compulsion. "But why should we destroy our own freedoms just to fit in with them?"

03-09-2008, 06:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aardvark Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oxonia Posts: 4,255	Good publicity for UKIP. Was your press release/liaison included Gawain? __________________ When in Woking do as the Wokes do. "I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008

03-09-2008, 09:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
devilskitchen Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 419	Erm, borrowing a log in as I'm away from the computer with the correct one. Gawain and I worked on that one. Not too shabby for day two of the partnership I hope? Tim W __________________ Unio Europaea delenda est

04-09-2008, 02:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
gawain Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 279	Balls Tim is being way too kind. That was his work with a very small - where are the figures? type input. L & G, methink you might have an effective press officer

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03-09-2008, 07:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
SponPlague Uber Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Zurich Posts: 3,400	Nice piece.

03-09-2008, 09:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
SponPlague Uber Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Zurich Posts: 3,400	Well done :-)

04-09-2008, 10:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
SponPlague Uber Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Zurich Posts: 3,400	Is it true that 4 Ind-Dem MEPs - Messrs. Belder, Blokland (both Dutch), Dahl (Danish), and Wochiewski (Polish) - support the plan?