As we come to the end of the May Strasbourg plenary session of the European Parliament, I ask myself, “What difference has the change in government UK made?” and more specifically, “Looking at the European Parliament, would you know the Tories and Lib-Dems are in a coalition at home?”
Although we may live in interesting times in Britain, here in the EU so far it’s business as usual. The Tory ECR Group, those Nick Clegg described as a bunch of nutters, maintain their vigorously anti-EU stance. It always amazes me that the Tories stick so rigorously to their bonkers policy of voting against or abstaining on all reports in front of the European Parliament. As a result they vote, for example, against making rape in marriage an offence. Whatever you may think about the EU and the European Parliament, surely this is a ludicrous way to behave – I don’t like you so I’m going to go against everything, yes every single thing, you do.
The political group to which the Lib-Dems belong, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), couldn’t be more different. As their name suggests, they’re pro-Europe for a start. They are also staggeringly undisciplined. Most of the political groups, including the Socialists and Democrats, expect their members to follow the Group whip when voting in the plenary session and in parliamentary committees. As I understand it the ALDE has a much looser arrangement and members more or less do their own thing.
It really is a question of never the twain shall meet. I don’t see how it’s possible to have Con-Dems in Europe, and neither, from what we have seen this week, do the two protagonists.
And yes, all of this does matter. During my10 years as an MEP from the government party, I and my Labour colleagues were expected to follow the government line. If you think about it, this makes sense. The British government, whatever its colour, whether it’s one or two, doesn’t want to clash with the EU more often than necessary and wants European legislation as close to its own point of view as possible. Obvious, if you ask me, a no-brainer, to use the current parlance.
How then will the Con-Dem coalition cope with Europe? Not only do the two parties have diametrically opposed views on the EU, they haven’t so far made any attempt to come together in any sort of joint arrangement on European legislation.
If I were feeling uncharitable, I would say Europe, both theoretically and practically, will Con-Dem Cam/Clegg to disaster. It’s just a question of when.
Filed under: Labour Party | Tagged: ALDE, Con-Dems, ECR, european parliament, Tories
I thought the Labour govt was very tired and therefore I am relieved we lost to a coalition rather than an outright Tory majority, which could of course still come.
However I am absolutely infuriated by Vince Cable wanting to privatize the GPO: I thought he was a nice liberal, who for example showed a pleasant and sympathetic image on HaveIGotNewsForYou.
I hope that the next time he appears on HIGNFY he will get the Angus Deayton treatment !!!!
Mary,
To answer your question – you’ll just have to wait & see like the rest of us. Whatever Con-Dem turn out to be, they aren’t Labour which has to be a result.
Your comment – “I don’t like you so I’m going to go against everything, yes every single thing, you do” actually sums up most of your pre-election posts, which were negative about the Tories without offering anything positive in return. Brown was the same, virtually every time he opened his mouth. History now of course & there’s nothing quite so out of date as last week’s politics.
regards
geoff
As far as the Lib Dems are concerned, it is quite simple: there is no “Con-Dem” coalition in the European Parliament. See this blog entry by Chris Davies
http://chrisdaviesmep.blogspot.com/2010/05/coalition-free-zone.html
Also this page elaborates on Chris’ note (you’ll have to scroll down):
http://iainroberts.4mp.org.uk/2010/05/21/chris-davies-meps-lib-dem-notes/
“The MEPs’ position is no different to that of colleagues in the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, or on any local council.”
The point is that they are all separate institutions from the Westminster parliament and UK national government. As a Lib Dem, I know my party, and am certain that any attempt by the party leadership to tell its MEPs to vote for the “government line” against Lib Dem or ALDE policy would be met with short shift by the MEPs. [It would also cause major uproar at party conference.] Anyway as a former MEP himself, Nick Clegg likely knows better than to do that. I can’t speak for the Tories, but I suspect that their attitude would be much the same: it is hard to imagine them voting for a Lib Dem inspired government line.
Frankly Ms Honeyball, your comment that your Labour MEP colleagues “were expected to follow the government line” when your party was in government says a lot more about your party than it does about the Lib Dems or the UK governing coalition. The view that members of any parliament exist primarily to do government’s bidding shows lack of respect for parliamentary democracy, and for the separation of powers between the EP and government.