This coming Thursday the UK will be taking part in the elections to the body commonly called the “European Parliament” although it doesn’t represent all of Europe and it’s not really a parliament. It does not initiate legislation and is really just a big, expensive, democratic fig leaf for the Commission which holds the real power. Hopefully this will be the very last time my country votes in these elections.
It shouldn’t really be happening at all. In 2016 the UK voted to leave the EU, nearly three years later we seem to be no closer to regaining our independence. In between there has been a general election, with Labour and Conservative candidates being elected on a platform of respecting the referendum and delivering Brexit. However, once elected a majority of these MPs have done their upmost to frustrate the 2016 referendum. People have become increasingly angry and frustrated.
In 2016 of the 650 parliamentary constituencies 406 voted Leave, but only 160 sitting MPs support Leave. Of course, in general elections people vote on many issues, not just the EU, but this disconnect on arguably the single most important issue of the day is becoming more obvious. It is causing a disillusionment I’ve never known in Britain before.
On the 2nd of May this year there were local elections. Of course, our relationship with the EU is not really something that should be a factor in local elections, but it was. The Conservatives and Labour got spanked. Both suffered 7% swings against them, although the Conservatives lost far more seats, losing control of 44 councils. The Lib-Dems, known for their strong game in local elections did well, even though they are pro-EU.
There was something else, while Remainers could vote Lib-Dem to get back at the Conservatives and Labour, Leavers like me often didn’t have an acceptable option. For the first time in my life I spoilt my ballot paper. Like many, I just wrote “Brexit” across the paper. Spoilt papers were most common in the places that voted Leave, and often papers had “traitors” written on them. I’ve not seen any figures on just how many, but enough to cause widespread comment, certainly into six figures. Leavers are getting angry.
On Thursday 23rd I have another chance to vote, and this time I will certainly not be spoiling my paper, but my pencil may well hover for some while. In these elections we don’t get to vote for candidates, it’s a PR system and you vote for a party, with a list of candidates, who get elected in the order they are on the list depending on how many votes the party gets. Where I live is part of the South East England region for the purposes of EU elections and we return ten MEPs.
One of our current MEPs is Nigel Farage, I guess you’ve heard of him, another is Daniel Hannan, a Conservative and a great speaker and hardworking advocate for Brexit (if you not heard of Daniel look him up on Youtube). Although I have great respect for Nigel and what he’s accomplished, and despite liking him as a bloke I do have concerns about him, his ego, and his gossamer thin Brexit Party. I also have great respect and affection for Daniel, but I know nothing about the other Conservative candidates, except for the other sitting MEP, Nirj Deva, whose Young Conservative Chairman I was back when he was a Westminster MP. I have great distaste for the current Conservative Party generally and I don’t trust the other names on the list. Add to that UKIP, are also standing. So, this time I do have choices, but which to vote for?
If it was a proper election, where you vote for an individual who you can judge by their words and actions, I’d certainly vote for Dan Hannan. Having to choose between party lists is a different matter. The Brexit Party are doing well in the polls, and a big turnout for them would send a strong message. However, apart from the redoubtable Nigel Farage I know next to nothing about them other than they seem to be drawn from both ends of the spectrum. UKIP have done great work in the past but seem to be flagging. Daniel is a sound man, great speaker, political heavyweight and I wish he’d stand for Westminster, but a vote for him is a vote for the Conservatives and all the others on the list.
I’ll let you know what I decide, when I do.
4 replies on “How to vote in an election that shouldn’t be happening?”
I have been watching the candidates “Carl Benjamin” and “Mike Meechan” with great interest 🙂
Indeed, and Tommy Robinson’s standing in the North West. It’ll be wonderful to see what they do if he’s elected.
I wish Tommy all the best. That poor man has been persecuted as much as anyone I have seen in modern history.
Too right. Even the so-called right wing press attack him. Today, in The Sun, there’s a brief report titled “Far-right clashes”. What happened was that Tommy and his supporters were attacked, as Carl Benjamin in the South West have been. So, the right winger gets attacked by the left and it’s their fault…(sigh)