Question Rules on MEP's switching party allegiance

Penguin · 14-09-2008, 02:09 PM

I am having difficulty finding the rules and regulations that apply to elected MEP's that having once been elected under the banner of any particular party decide they no longer wish to represent that party. As a consequence they decide to either switch allegiance to another party or become an Independent. Can anyone help please?

Bett Nwar · 14-09-2008, 02:10 PM

Ashley Mote has sat as an Independent virtually since day 1. He was elected as UKIP. A gentleman would have 'walked' and given his seat to the party that got him elected.

kernow · 14-09-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bett Nwar

A gentleman would have 'walked' and given his seat to the party that got him elected.

What! Give up your seat on the gravy train, are you mad!!!

Penguin · 14-09-2008, 02:18 PM

Of course. But I believe UKIP withdrew the whip from him and pushed him out. What happens if an individual takes the route of getting elected, lets say under the UKIP banner but afterward decide for themselves to transfer their allegiance?

gumshoe · 14-09-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penguin

Of course. But I believe UKIP withdrew the whip from him and pushed him out. What happens if an individual takes the route of getting elected, lets say under the UKIP banner but afterward decide for themselves to transfer their allegiance?

Unfortunately, those who drafted the rules for MEPs did not think of an MEP changing allegiances. Common sense dictates that if one is elected on a Party list and not as an individual and then leaves the party, one should lose the seat, but that is not so. It appears to be the same as when an MP like Bob Spink, elected as a Conservative, joined UKIP.

I understand UKIP did its damnest to unseat Michael Holmes after he left the party but the EU was not having any of it. UKIP had to wait till Roger Knapman, free from the stain of the unseemly row between Holmes and the NEC, visited him and persuaded him to let the next in line, Graham Booth, take the seat. I believe Holmes did well out of the deal in terms of EU benefits for his brief stint as an MEP.

Geoffrey Collier · 14-09-2008, 03:13 PM

Penguin: Having been elected on a party-ticket, an MEP can become an independent if he wishes. UKIP had that experience when Michael Holmes, having been elected on the UKIP list, became an Indpendent and that was quite lawful. The rules affecting these matters were formulated when we had difficulties in Ulster, they were intended to be quite capacious, to accommodate a whole range of possible permutations. Not everthing is done with malevolent motives. Have a word with the Dept. of Constitutional Affairs, they may be able to give you some written rules.

Geoffrey Collier · 14-09-2008, 03:22 PM

Gumshoe: You are confusing separate things. MPs' are elected on a personal vote. MEPs' are elected on a party ticket, it is the party not the individual which receives the vote.
MP's may represent a party, but it is THEIR name against which you put your vote. With MEPs' you put your vote against the party name. This is a crucial difference.

Problems arise, as I stated to Penguin, when other considerations have to be accommodated. .

Nyge21 · 14-09-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gumshoe

I believe Holmes did well out of the deal in terms of EU benefits for his brief stint as an MEP.

The (personal) benefits of being an MEP even for a short stint are not insignificant - okay you loose the salary and expenses but.... are allowed a high pension on retirement age plus exeption from legal prosecutions for all time (handy if one were an out and out criminal like paedophile or mass murderer, as the EU will protect its own, from such niceities as legal prosecutions!) . EU =

chikrodah · 14-09-2008, 05:50 PM

MEPs are not exempt from legal prosecution for the time they are MEPs, let alone "for all time". Ask Ashley Mote - it took several years, but the DWP finally got him into court, while he was still an MEP.

Gregory Lauder-Frost · 14-09-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier

Gumshoe: You are confusing separate things. MPs' are elected on a personal vote. MEPs' are elected on a party ticket, it is the party not the individual which receives the vote.
MP's may represent a party, but it is THEIR name against which you put your vote. With MEPs' you put your vote against the party name. This is a crucial difference.

Problems arise, as I stated to Penguin, when other considerations have to be accommodated. .

It seems wrong to be that where an election is fought on a party list system that once the party withdraws their Whip that the MEP somehow thinks he has a right to remain in the European Parliament. That cannot be right. The UKIP legal eagles out to be able to seriously challenge that.

14-09-2008, 02:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Penguin Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK - South Posts: 20	Rules on MEP's switching party allegiance I am having difficulty finding the rules and regulations that apply to elected MEP's that having once been elected under the banner of any particular party decide they no longer wish to represent that party. As a consequence they decide to either switch allegiance to another party or become an Independent. Can anyone help please?

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14-09-2008, 02:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bett Nwar Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 210	Ashley Mote has sat as an Independent virtually since day 1. He was elected as UKIP. A gentleman would have 'walked' and given his seat to the party that got him elected.

14-09-2008, 02:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
Penguin Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK - South Posts: 20	Of course. But I believe UKIP withdrew the whip from him and pushed him out. What happens if an individual takes the route of getting elected, lets say under the UKIP banner but afterward decide for themselves to transfer their allegiance?

14-09-2008, 03:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Geoffrey Collier Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,160	Penguin: Having been elected on a party-ticket, an MEP can become an independent if he wishes. UKIP had that experience when Michael Holmes, having been elected on the UKIP list, became an Indpendent and that was quite lawful. The rules affecting these matters were formulated when we had difficulties in Ulster, they were intended to be quite capacious, to accommodate a whole range of possible permutations. Not everthing is done with malevolent motives. Have a word with the Dept. of Constitutional Affairs, they may be able to give you some written rules.

14-09-2008, 03:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Geoffrey Collier Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,160	Gumshoe: You are confusing separate things. MPs' are elected on a personal vote. MEPs' are elected on a party ticket, it is the party not the individual which receives the vote. MP's may represent a party, but it is THEIR name against which you put your vote. With MEPs' you put your vote against the party name. This is a crucial difference. Problems arise, as I stated to Penguin, when other considerations have to be accommodated. .

14-09-2008, 05:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
chikrodah Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlands Posts: 1,714	MEPs are not exempt from legal prosecution for the time they are MEPs, let alone "for all time". Ask Ashley Mote - it took several years, but the DWP finally got him into court, while he was still an MEP.