The Politics Thread

[BWFC_Insane]

If Farage has achieved what he was voted in as an MEP to do (allegedly) then shouldn't he therefore step down as an MEP?

I'm still not convinced that he even if he was voted in with the sole intention of "getting Britain out" (which I'm not convinced by) means you can legitimately draw a salary in that role and not actively do the role. He isn't paid as an MEP to campaign for Brexit for example. That is a separate activity.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Regardless of who elected who, the job of a British MEP is to represent the interests of the particular bit of the UK he/she is supposed to represent. Whilst there is no doubt Farage has been successful in his aim of Brexit and representing the view of a significant number of UK citizens, he has spectacularly failed in making use of his position on a committee and influencing change to the things he says are wrong. Turning up and influencing policy to the advantage of UK fishing doesn't mean he can't represent his main aim as well. For that he should be ashamed.

How does the UK leaving the EU not constitute the most fundamental of changes?

Spending the time you are paid to be at parliament actually trying to make change for good and campaigning for your ultimate aim are not mutually exclusive. He has literally been paid hundreds of thousands Euros to sit in Brussels doing absolutely nothing 95% of the time. He should have used some of that time to actually fight for changes to the benefit of his constituents. It's not like he was spending all the time he should have been in those meetings and sessions campaigning to leave the EU.

[Enoch]

If Farage has achieved what he was voted in as an MEP to do (allegedly)

Out of interest, what else do you think folk that voted UKIP at European Parliament elections were voting for?

then shouldn't he therefore step down as an MEP?

That's an interesting question.

[BWFC_Insane]

If Farage has achieved what he was voted in as an MEP to do (allegedly)

Out of interest, what else do you think folk that voted UKIP at European Parliament elections were voting for?

I shudder to think....

Seriously though were they voting for UKIP to stick two fingers up at the European Parliament? That requires some level of attendance. Were they voting for UKIP to represent "Britain" and "British values" more strongly in Europe via an MEP? I suspect so. Were they voting for a UKIP MEP to bargain harder than it was perceived we had before? I suspect so.

I mean 5% of UKIP voters supposedly voted to remain in the EU. So whilst I'm sure he was elected an MEP with partly a mandate to get Britain out, that isn't, actually his role as MEP.

[Enoch]

Regardless of who elected who, the job of a British MEP is to represent the interests of the particular bit of the UK he/she is supposed to represent. Whilst there is no doubt Farage has been successful in his aim of Brexit and representing the view of a significant number of UK citizens, he has spectacularly failed in making use of his position on a committee and influencing change to the things he says are wrong. Turning up and influencing policy to the advantage of UK fishing doesn't mean he can't represent his main aim as well. For that he should be ashamed.

How does the UK leaving the EU not constitute the most fundamental of changes?

Spending the time you are paid to be at parliament actually trying to make change for good and campaigning for your ultimate aim are not mutually exclusive. He has literally been paid hundreds of thousands Euros to sit in Brussels doing absolutely nothing 95% of the time. He should have used some of that time to actually fight for changes to the benefit of his constituents. It's not like he was spending all the time he should have been in those meetings and sessions campaigning to leave the EU.

In the 2014 European Parliamentary election, more British folk troubled to vote for UKIP than could be troubled to vote for any other party. In this election UKIP stood only for leaving the EU, his mandate was clear, he did what his electorate asked of him.

Like him or loath him, as an MEP he did what he was elected to do. Not too many politicians achieve that.

Play the ball, not the man.

[BWFC_Insane]

In the 2014 European Parliamentary election, more British folk troubled to vote for UKIP than could be troubled to vote for any other party. In this election UKIP stood only for leaving the EU, his mandate was clear, he did what his electorate asked of him.

Like him or loath him, as an MEP he did what he was elected to do. Not too many politicians achieve that.

Play the ball, not the man.

He hasn't achieved it as an MEP. Him being an MEP and drawing a salary as an MEP has made zero difference to the vote.

Farage did not in anyway need to be an MEP.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Regardless of who elected who, the job of a British MEP is to represent the interests of the particular bit of the UK he/she is supposed to represent. Whilst there is no doubt Farage has been successful in his aim of Brexit and representing the view of a significant number of UK citizens, he has spectacularly failed in making use of his position on a committee and influencing change to the things he says are wrong. Turning up and influencing policy to the advantage of UK fishing doesn't mean he can't represent his main aim as well. For that he should be ashamed.

How does the UK leaving the EU not constitute the most fundamental of changes?

Spending the time you are paid to be at parliament actually trying to make change for good and campaigning for your ultimate aim are not mutually exclusive. He has literally been paid hundreds of thousands Euros to sit in Brussels doing absolutely nothing 95% of the time. He should have used some of that time to actually fight for changes to the benefit of his constituents. It's not like he was spending all the time he should have been in those meetings and sessions campaigning to leave the EU.

In the 2014 European Parliamentary election, more British folk troubled to vote for UKIP than could be troubled to vote for any other party. In this election UKIP stood only for leaving the EU, his mandate was clear, he did what his electorate asked of him.

Like him or loath him, as an MEP he did what he was elected to do. Not too many politicians achieve that.

Play the ball, not the man.

In what way am I playing the man and not the ball. Unless the job description for an MEP has been rewritten just for UKIP then how are they doing their job? The job is to work on committees, attend plenary sessions and vote on matters. You have to turn up to do that and he and his colleagues consistently fail to do so. By all means vote against everything to create obstacles, attend plenary sessions and complain and heckle the pro European MEPs. But sitting at home doing a few press releases and tv appearances is not doing the paid job of being an MEP. Have you seen their 2014 manifesto? 2 power point slides that would have taken less time than a fag and pint of best.

[Worthy4England]

^^ I'm guessing from the last sentence you didn't do much Salford Sunday League?

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

^^ I'm guessing from the last sentence you didn't do much Salford Sunday League?

I was a basketball player. Gave up on running around muddy fields around the age of 15

[Worthy4England]

Sorry was meant for Enoch's last sentence.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I did think it was a bit weird, but things regularly fly over my head

[Enoch]

^^ I'm guessing from the last sentence you didn't do much Salford Sunday League?

That would be correct. Though my own Sunday League experience had its moments.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Sorry was meant for Enoch's last sentence.

But actually suitable for both - very clever.

[Worthy4England]

http://news.sky.com/story/1721982/watch ... candidates" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ken and Malc discuss the runners and riders. Quite funny, really.

[Hoboh]

Regardless of who elected who, the job of a British MEP is to represent the interests of the particular bit of the UK he/she is supposed to represent. Whilst there is no doubt Farage has been successful in his aim of Brexit and representing the view of a significant number of UK citizens, he has spectacularly failed in making use of his position on a committee and influencing change to the things he says are wrong. Turning up and influencing policy to the advantage of UK fishing doesn't mean he can't represent his main aim as well. For that he should be ashamed.

How does the UK leaving the EU not constitute the most fundamental of changes?

Spending the time you are paid to be at parliament actually trying to make change for good and campaigning for your ultimate aim are not mutually exclusive. He has literally been paid hundreds of thousands Euros to sit in Brussels doing absolutely nothing 95% of the time. He should have used some of that time to actually fight for changes to the benefit of his constituents. It's not like he was spending all the time he should have been in those meetings and sessions campaigning to leave the EU.

You don't seriously thing MEP's influence anything in the EU do you?

That's the business of the commission, the EU parliament is little more than a rubber stamp and talking shop.

[Lord Kangana]

I fully expect them to have no infuence when they don't attend. I would have thought that fairly self evident?

[Hoboh]

I fully expect them to have no infuence when they don't attend. I would have thought that fairly self evident?

I guess a few less expenses to claim, save the Euro taxpayers a few bob, in fact they could go the whole hog and turn the place into a giant refugee camp, that would keep some people happy.

[thebish]

I fully expect them to have no infuence when they don't attend. I would have thought that fairly self evident?

I guess a few less expenses to claim, save the Euro taxpayers a few bob, in fact they could go the whole hog and turn the place into a giant refugee camp, that would keep some people happy.

My memory might be failing me, but I seem to recall you saying that if Brexit won we'd hear nothing more about it from you....

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

You don't seriously thing MEP's influence anything in the EU do you?

That's the business of the commission, the EU parliament is little more than a rubber stamp and talking shop.

The Commission get to propose stuff, administer stuff and enforce directives/legislation. The actual legislation stuff is Parliament and the Council - all people you and I can vote for (the UK ones). If creating legislation isn't influence then what is?

You've clearly been bemoaning something for at least a decade without understanding what it is you're bemoaning. Next you'll be moaning about civil servants having more influence than MPs...

[Hoboh]

You don't seriously thing MEP's influence anything in the EU do you?

That's the business of the commission, the EU parliament is little more than a rubber stamp and talking shop.

The Commission get to propose stuff, administer stuff and enforce directives/legislation. The actual legislation stuff is Parliament and the Council - all people you and I can vote for (the UK ones). If creating legislation isn't influence then what is?

You've clearly been bemoaning something for at least a decade without understanding what it is you're bemoaning. Next you'll be moaning about civil servants having more influence than MPs...

before you go accusing anyone of not understanding anything I'd suggest you do some looking into what you are talking about.