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Just how does Wight and Hampshire South Euro-constituency fit into the democratic process? |
The local Conservative Association is the bedrock of the Conservative Party organisation. However, it is much more than just a vehicle to elect an MP. The Association is responsible for organising activity in other political areas on a local, national, and international basis, and as such is responsible for organising the field campaign for European elections - even under proportional representation.
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Westminster Parliamentary Constituencies |
Wight and Hampshire South European Constituency is made up of six 'Westminster' constituencies. These are:
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Fareham Conservative Association
14 East Street
Fareham
Hampshire
PO16 0BN
Tel: (44) + (0) 1329 822646
Fax: (44) + (0) 1329 232585
M.P. Rt Hon Sir Peter Lloyd
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Gosport Conservative Association
167 Stoke Road
Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 1SE
Tel: (44) + (0) 1705 588400
Fax: (44) + (0) 1705 527624
WWW Site: www.conservative-party.org.uk/Constituency_Pages/gosport/index.html
M.P. Peter Viggers
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Isle of Wight Conservative Association
58 The Mall
Carisbrooke Road
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 1BW
Tel: (44) + (0) 1983 522404
Fax: (44) + (0) 1983 526846
eMail:isleofwight@isleofwight.tory.org.uk
M.P. until retiring due to ill health at the 1997 election, Barry Field. Now held by the Liberal Democrats.
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Portsmouth North Conservative Association
9 Spur Road
Cosham
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO6 3DY
Tel: (44) + (0) 1705 383723
Fax: (44) + (0) 1705 385014
eMail: val@pnca.freeserve.co.uk
M.P. until the 1997 election, Peter Griffiths. Now held by Labour.
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Portsmouth South Conservative Association
20 Granda Road
Southsea
Hampshire
PO4 0RH
Tel: (44) + (0) 1705 827450
Fax: (44) + (0) 1705 827450
eMail: chairman@portsmouth-south.tory.org.uk
M.P. until the 1997 Election, David Martin. Now held by the Liberal Democrats.
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Winchester Conservative Association
Evelyn House
Coker Close
Elm Road
Winchester
Hampshire
SO22 5GH
Tel: (44) + (0) 1962 853668
Fax: (44) + (0) 1962 870676
eMail: margaretlodge@winchest.tory.org.uk
M.P. until the 1997 election, Gerald Malone. Now held by the Liberal Democrats.
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The Labour Government has chosen a regional list system of Proportional Representation (PR) for European elections, using closed lists.
Under this new system, Britain is no longer divided into single-member constituencies but 11 Government Office Regions. Party lists of candidates will stand in each region. The closed list system means that votes are cast for a party only - there is no choice between candidates, although they will be named on the ballot paper.
PR means that every vote counts. The votes for each party list will be counted up, and then a number of seats will be allocated to each party proportionate to their share of the total vote.
Roy Perry MEP is in position number 2 on the Conservative list for the South East Region. A total of 11 members of the European Parliament will be elected from this region which comprises Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex - some 6 million people!
Roy Perry will work for the whole of the South East but will maintain his existing links with Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Under PR, on the 1997 general election figures, Conservatives would fill 5 of the 11 available seats in the South East, with Labour and the Liberals both on 3. All Conservative Party Members are able to vote to determine the candidates ranking.
With your support in, Conservatives really could hold the balance of power in Europe once more.
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The European Parliament is the only European institution directly answerable to the electorate. The European Commission is appointed and not elected. The Council of Ministers meets in secret, so the European Parliament is the one institution that is democratic and which the voters can directly influence.
At present the majority of governments in Europe (11 out of 15) have socialist prime ministers. This means that the Council of Ministers and therefore the next Commission are socialist dominated. This explains why Europe has been getting things wrong in recent years.
The European Parliament is more evenly divided with at present 214 Socialist MEPs and 201 EPP (Christian Democrat/Conservative) MEPs out of a total of 626.
To stop Europe going wholly down a left wing and socialist route, to return Europe towards a free market, flexible and open Europe, the June elections are critical.
More then ever under PR every vote counts. There are no safe or marginal seats - representation for our region will be in direct proportion to the votes cast over the whole of the South East of England.
The number of Conservative MEPs will depend directly on how many Conservative votes are cast.
The question we should address is not: "Europe - Right or Wrong?", but "Europe - Right or Left?".
If Conservative supporters turn out in strength we have a chance of getting the Europe we want. If we stay at home or vote for fringe and extremist parties, we will get the Europe we don't want.
Make sure your vote counts.
ROY PERRY MEP
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Conservatives in the European Parliament are committed to stamping out fraud in the EU. The Tory track-record speaks for itself. Meanwhile, Labour's attitude continues to be characterised by disinterest, missed opportunities and U-turns.
1990 Conservative MEP Edward McMillan Scott challenged fraudulent actions in the Tourism Unit. These were subject to denial and cover up but have been shown to be valid.
1995 Conservative MEP Roy Perry initiated procedure to establish the first ever Temporary Committee of Inquiry into Fraud in the European Union. This was resisted by the Socialist spokesman on the Budgetary Control Committee, Jon Tomlinson MEP, and by the Socialist President of the Parliament, Klaus Hänsch.
The Socialists would only permit a watered down committee, restricted to Community Transit Fraud. The Rapporteur was Conservative MEP, Edward Kellett-Bowman.
(Conservatives could now return to a demand for a full Committee of Inquiry into Fraud.)
1996 John Major appointed a Conservative Party Joint Working Group of 3 MPs, 3 Peers and 3 MEPs to investigate EU Fraud under the Chairmanship of Roy Perry MEP. This was the first time Parliamentarians from the three chambers had worked together.
This report was finalised in March 1997 but because of the proximity of the General Election it was not published.
1998 James Elles - as Rapporteur for the "Discharge of the 1996 EU Account" recommended refusal of a discharge, initially in March of 1998 and subsequently in December of the same year.
At the vote in December 1998 the Socialists voted to pass the accounts but that was refused in the full Plenary Session (again the Socialists voted to pass them). Pauline Green (leader of the Socialists) then threatened a censure motion to call the EPP bluff. She called for a censure of the whole European Commission - believing the right wing parties would not follow it through. It was later proved that the Conservatives did have the nerve to pursue the motion - the left wing parties did not.
Subsequently she withdrew her motion and with the majority of the other Socialists, except the Germans, voted against the other censure motion that had been tabled.
As a compromise the Committee of Independent Experts was established. Had the Socialists in the Parliament had their way the Accounts for 1996 would have been passed without question or investigation.
The Conservatives in the European Parliament were involved in the initiatives to create the Court of Auditors, Budgetary Control Committee and the European Commission's Anti-Fraud Unit. The recent proposal to establish an independent anti-fraud office in Europe originated from Conservative MEP James Elles.
Roy Perry MEP for Wight and Hampshire South wrote the following letter to the Times Newspaper which paraphrases the Conservative view on Pauline Green's cynical politicking over the censure motion.
The Letters Editor
The Times
London
The analysis by William Rees-Mogg of the role played by Labour MEPs, most especially Pauline Green, in saving the practices of the present European commission, was particularly sharp. Mrs Green indeed said at the very outset, that she tabled a censure motion with the intention to vote against it. No one can be surprised that she ultimately applied the tactic of withdrawing her motion.
However, Mr Blair has another option to show whether he really believes Mme Cresson or Senor Marin have fallen sort of the standards expected of them. Under Clause 160 of the European Treaty, the Council may apply to the European Court of Justice to compulsorily retire a Commissioner. That is a power so far denied to the Parliament.
It is a pity that unlike the European Parliament - which is at least open in its processes - the Council of Ministers are totally closed and we need never know whether Tony Blair, or any of the other ministers, has the courage to make such a move.
ROY PERRY
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