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Old 30th March 2003 | 17:38
  #119 (permalink)  
Neo
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Checked No Pressure -

A fine idea, but I'm afraid the matter is not so simple. MEPs are elected in large constituencies according to proportional representation. Those who are elected are not elected directly, but chosen from a list of their party's candidates according to the proportion of the popular vote in their consituency. These lists are drawn up by the party membership in an internal vote with the priority of candidates being determined by the number of votes each gained in the internal election. If the candidate gets to the top of the party list they are virtually guranteed election regardless of party, as happened to the UKIP MEPs in the south east of England.

The thing to do is look at Mr. Simpson's and Mrs. Forster's party lists. If they are close to the top then you have no chance of unseating them. Even if they are not, any campaign you might mount would have to gain significant popular support to alter the outcome of the vote significantly, and I regret to say that this is unlikely on an issue which is likely to be perceived by the public as a limited, technical one.

The best approach is to lobby through a group like BALPA who have some experience of this.