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that’s because they are a complete waste of space
If only they'd bothered to get off their arse and vote in a proper MEP instead of a one issue protest group that deliberately messes in their own nest. Then they might have an MEP worth contacting.
what molgrips said about economics and politics, x2
Bullshit. Good leaders get people on board,
Sorry but this really is buying into the myth of the all glorious leader. Leaders work best when they get to chose who is in their team. Whereas Corbyn is stuck with a bunch of people who hate anything vaguely left of centre and seemingly want more to destroy the left resurgence in the Labour party than anything else. It wasnt just Corbyn, although they doubled down on him, but Ed Milliband as well.
He can easily alter his shadow cabinent if he feels it isnt performing adequately.
It depends on who he gets to chose from. Its a limited bunch especially since many of the backbenches would prefer everything to end in flames rather than to seriously support him. Since they see that as their best way of regaining control of Labour.
There’s a reason no one knows who their MEP is, and that’s because they are a complete waste of space.
Yes there is. Which is the UK hasnt bothered taking the EU elections seriously.
So we have lots of UKIP/Brexit MEPs who cant be arsed to do their jobs and even in the other parties they come across as second rate most of the time. Which bearing in mind the mess Westminster is in is saying something.
That isnt the EU fault though but our own political and cultural structure.
that’s because they are a complete waste of space
I have a councillor that responds to queries, and an MEP who does likewise (alongside some who do not)… but I have an MP (and I guess so do you) who blocks constituents on social media if they ask any question of him at all, and leaves his team to send back vacuous answers to emails and letters. I am far better represented in the European Parliament than I am at Westminster. The “I don’t know what they do, so they must be doing shit all” attitude to our MEPs is part of why we are where we are.
We should probably save all the “people don’t trust Corbyn” stuff for the other thread… but I still do not, even though I will be voting Labour at the next election. He isn’t suddenly going to become the man who the country gets behind, sadly, and needs to move on. Wishing it otherwise is not enough.
There’s a reason no one knows who their MEP is, and that’s because they are a complete waste of space.
They are? Have you ever dealt with one?
You can't blame them for the fact that most people in the UK don't engage with EU politics. Despite moaning about the influence the EU has on their lives. Moronic if you ask me.
They are? Have you ever dealt with one?
Point missed again. I have no doubt many MEPs are hardworking and engaged with their constituents, but what difference does that make? They go back to Strasbourg and do what? Has anyone got any examples of an MEP successfully changing EU policy based on the representations of their constituents? As far as I'm aware there are very few, if any, examples of the EU parliament vetoing or changing EU legislation as proposed by the EU commission. I'm happy to be corrected but the influence the electorate has on EU policy via their MEPs is negligible.
Has anyone got any examples of an MEP successfully changing EU policy based on the representations of their constituents?
No, but have you got any examples of the opposite? Have you ever actually tried engaging in the process? If not, then you're just making stuff up to smear the EU.
As far as I’m aware there are very few, if any, examples of the EU parliament vetoing or changing EU legislation as proposed by the EU commission.
This is because the Commission proposes legislation in consultation with Parliament so that it'll pass. It's not comabtive like in UK domestic politics. There's no point in the Commission proposing something that they know will be voted down. Haven't we already covered this?
The UK electorate probably have as much influence on EU policy as they do on UK policy.
The UK is about as well repesented in the "big" EU positions, as other member nations, as far as I know.
They go back to Strasbourg and do what?
Stand in EU parliament, table proposals and reports, vote on stuff, that sort of thing.
It's a bit like the UK parliament, just organised slightly different.
I feel like I've just written something incredibly patronising, but it seems necessary.
As far as I’m aware there are very few, if any, examples of the EU parliament vetoing or changing EU legislation as proposed by the EU commission.
are you being willfully ignorant?
making amendments is exactly what MEPs spend their time doing
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/amendments.html
Im sure as a job its dull as dishwater (why do you think farage never bothered to turn up to his fisheries committee)
Stand in EU parliament, table proposals and reports, vote on stuff, that sort of thing.
Attend committees and push for change via that or, alternately, dont bother turning up and then pretend to be the champion of the British fishing industry.
My opinion is that our MEPs do badly under perform on the whole but that isnt the EUs fault. Thats our countries fault and I cant see how the EU could fix it short of measures which would be, accurately, called undemocratic hence why the EU doesnt try them.
So I had a quick google, for no real reason. I figured I'd look up a couple of UK MEPs just for giggles. To see what "they" do in Strasbourg.
So. Edward Macmillan-Scott, UK MEP, was one of the European VPs for a number of years - fairly senior position really, so we should all probably know who he is, right? He did stuff involving election oversight in countries that have a tendency to be a bit bent at election time and other stuff as part of a Human Rights and Democracy role.
Or, Diana Wallis, UK MEP again, she was another Euro VP (first British female Euro VP apparently) - in at the start of the transparency register, to try and stop lobbyists from buying up politicans, also set up some legislation banning trade of Seal products and probably some other stuff.
On a less humanitarian and more commercial note, everyone's least favourite Lib Dem leader, Clegg, steered the telephone loop unbundling regs in a more customer friendly direction while he was there.
We're apparently quite well represented in the top jobs.
I feel quite sad that Britain has decided it would be better to do absolutely no more of this sort of stuff.
are you being willfully ignorant?
No, it’s not wilful.
There’s a reason no one knows who their MEP is, and that’s because they are a complete waste of space.
I have no doubt many MEPs are hardworking and engaged with their constituents, but what difference does that make?
Point missed again.
when you've made one, and don't directly contradict it with your next post, maybe you'll get taken more seriously.
are you being willfully ignorant?
No, it’s not wilful.
🙂 🙂 🙂
A timely reminder from Merkel of how a top politician operates telling Johnson she will listen to anything and if he comes up with a workable arrangement for the border the backstop is no longer needed - and he has 30 days to do it.
Showing she is not being intransigent and throwing the onus back on Johnson.
Johnson and the UK press will still spin it as 'we've done our best by offering vague platitudes but the nasty EU won't negociate" though.
The UK press (and TV&Radio media) have already reported various “come forward with a proposal that can be ready to go before the end of the implementation period and we can write it into the political declaration to prevent the backstop having any use or force” comments from EU officials and member state governments as “refuse to talk”… they’ll treat this much the same I fear.
I'm genuinely surprised at how easily Merkel played him
kimbers
Subscriber
I’m genuinely surprised at how easily Merkel played him
Was great to see though want it?
A Poundland Trump up against a true and experienced world leader.
... He basically just caved.
Yes Boris, the onus is on YOU.
On a less humanitarian and more commercial note, everyone’s least favourite Lib Dem leader, Clegg, steered the telephone loop unbundling regs in a more customer friendly direction
If they’re the best examples we can find of MEPs showing their worth it’s little wonder people voted for brexit in their millions.
It’s pretty hilarious how appreciative everyone suddenly is of their MEPs and EU politics. Can any of you honestly say you knew who your MEP was before 2016?
Kimbers - really? She is a politician of a stature we no longer have. I don't always agree with her but she is astute, well informed, has good moral values and above all else experience. She played him with ease and aplomb
I said a while back that I was looking forward to this meeting. Johnson has no idea how to deal with women like her. A part of his stunted emotional growth. He simply is unable to cope.
Gonna be interesting how they try to spin it.
It’s pretty hilarious how appreciative everyone suddenly is of their MEPs and EU politics. Can any of you honestly say you knew who your MEP was before 2016?
I know very little of what the components do in my TV but by and large I'm happy with the overall effect.
Also, having seen "our" politicians versus EU politicians of late I know which I have more faith in.
Reading all the dazhsplaining...it’s like having a Lexiteer version of jambalaya back in the thread. Refreshing.
I’m genuinely surprised at how easily Merkel played him
I'm supprised that that you're supprised lol!
27 nations, the most powerful trading bloc in human history V's boris Johnson who's doing nothing more than parrot theresa may in more patronising way!?
it’s like having a Lexiteer version of jambalaya
Apart from the fact I’m a remainer and always have been. Got anything to say other than juvenile smartarse comments?
Well I laughed anyway deadlydarcy 🙂
What's really funny is that Dominic Cummings has postponed an operation to strategize for Johnson
He's made sure every statement by Johnson and his cabinet, every staged photo op & headline in the rw press has carefully built on the narrative that we can't get a deal because it's all the EUs fault...
A 10 minute press conference with Merkel and Johnson has managed to shift responsibility onto himself
He's gonna go full Tucker on bojo tomorrow
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lcrPoIyTf-c
Can any of you honestly say you knew who your MEP was before 2016?
Who has ONE single MEP?
Don’t get angry… get informed.
Unrelated… but love this from the longest standing MEP for our region…
One of my daughters, when collecting stamps, said that I collect papers. That, and the fact that I’ve written several books that are highly valued by insomniacs, should convince you that I’m the most boring person you can safely vote for.
And now Macron is saying no new deal.
Good cop, bad cop.
So did Merkel
All she said was if you can come up with something that means the backstop is not needed this can be added to the political declaration
A timely reminder from Merkel of how a top politician operates telling Johnson she will listen to anything and if he comes up with a workable arrangement for the border the backstop is no longer needed – and he has 30 days to do it.
Showing she is not being intransigent and throwing the onus back on Johnson.
I found the exchange quite revealing considering the original rhetoric and demands from Bojo he was actually like a puppy.
I was expecting a more defiant attitude and was surprised that he didn’t actually get what she’d just done.
He has no idea how to deal with women like Merkel. Part of his flawed upbringing / character. She also has more political nous in her pinky than he has in his whole body. This is what happens when an able political operator meets someone who is all bluff and bluster
surprised that he didn’t actually get what she’d just done.
<Shhhhhh - don't tell anyone, but I'm not sure he's very bright... >
That was a cracking return of serve by Frau Merkel. Whatever Boris does he's going to upset someone he relies on.
So how is todays meeting going to go.
My bet - hard line from Macron but leaving space for the 30 dys to find a solution - something along the lines of " tell us what you want specifically and outline the alternative arrangements" coupled with " come back when you have a serious proposal" from Macron and bluster along the lines of " I knew they didn't want to negotiate" from Johnson
If they’re the best examples we can find of MEPs showing their worth it’s little wonder people voted for brexit in their millions.
They were a mere handful of examples I found with a half arsed five minutes on google.
Also, re the other point, no, I had no idea of the identity of "my MEP", but the TV analogy works for me, I was generally happy with how Europe seemed to be working out, so I didn't need to care much.
cracking return of serve by Frau Merkel
I'd genuinely prefer Boris Becker to be our PM.
Also, re the other point, no, I had no idea of the identity of “my MEP”, but the TV analogy works for me, I was generally happy with how Europe seemed to be working out, so I didn’t need to care much.
Plus, of course, the reason it's difficult to identify a single MEP as your representative is down to the election process used - something which is selected by the Nation State, not the EU. Blame Westminster for the regional use of De Hondt (Sp?).
Well Macron just said that it is down to Boris to find a solution if he doesn't want the backstop.
Boris only reply was that the referendum result had to be respected.
My bet – hard line from Macron but leaving space for the 30 dys to find a solution – something along the lines of ” tell us what you want specifically and outline the alternative arrangements” coupled with ” come back when you have a serious proposal” from Macron and bluster along the lines of ” I knew they didn’t want to negotiate” from Johnson
Not quite 100% right on Johnsons reply but Macron and Merkel have firmly called his bluff and thrown all the onus back on him while all he could do was bluster and grin inanely
30 love
Headline from that link…
Migration experts say the UK cannot end freedom of movement from the EU on Brexit day because it has no system to work out who is legally in the country.
Of course FoM can end when the government wants it to… it just can’t do so without having a detrimental effect on many of the people who are already here legally and correctly… but then the Windrush mess tells us that won’t necessarily stop them… it’a a great chance to blow those dog whistles…
I heard on Radio4 a few minutes ago a proposed solution to not having checks on the Irish border was to have them 10minutes away.