UKIP's attendance record in the European Parliament is worse than that of their counterparts from the three major parties.
UKIP’s attendance record in the European Parliament is worse than that of their counterparts from the three major parties, according to data compiled by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Happy to sign-in and collect their allowances, UKIP’s nine MEPs have missed around a third of the votes in the European Parliament between 2009 and October 2013. They have also missed almost all of the ‘reports amended’ sessions in which MEPs lay down amendments to legislation.
This was once again demonstrated on Wednesday, when Europe voted on whether its Parliament should continue meeting in both Brussels and Strasbourg, after a long campaign highlighting the fact that it costs European taxpayers €180m to meet in two locations rather than one.
Despite UKIP claiming to be standing up for Britain against European bureaucracy, however, only four UKIP MEPs out of nine bothered to turn up to vote on the measure at all. And those that did turn up abstained – on a measure that would have trimmed spending and cut waste!
And yet despite only four UKIP MEPs turning up to vote on the ‘second seat’ rule on Wednesday, six UKIP MEPs signed in to claim their daily spending allowance.
In other words, some UKIP MEPs signed in and couldn’t even be bothered to abstain!
66 Responses to “UKIP MEPs laziest in Europe”
Jimmy
Ukip are scrounging bums.
cole
Expect the scrounging lazy Kippers were in the bar…
Thoughtful Skeptic
I already pointed out why this vote was not cynical but is part of mounting pressure on the Council. For being cynical those who lead this initiative would have to say the one thing but want the other. But it is quite a bold claim to deny that most MEPs genuinly want the travel circus to be scrapped.
But even if it were meaningless, UKIP had nothing to loose by increasing the pressure generated by the one-seat campaign.
If UKIP’s MEPs see themselves more like investigative journalists who have no legislative business to do, why are they cashing in the salary of a parlamentarian nonetheless? Those people who want their MEPs to defend a euroskeptic approach also in day to day legislative work in the EP are apparently better off to vote for the Tories. They might not be as radical but at least they try to influence legislation in a eurosceptic conservative way rather than skipping votes with the excuse that they are there to expose not to vote.
Rallan
I am tired of repeating simple arguments that you simply ignore. I’ve made a clear case, but you are too wrapped up in your opinion to even contemplate the existence of another point of view.
Facts: UKIP is increasing in popularity and membership. UKIP is the bookies favourite to win the EU Parliament elections in 2014. UKIP MEPs get a substantial following online. UKIP is constantly attacked and smeared in the media, but this has had little or no impact on UKIP popularity.
People like you have used the same feeble arguments time and time again without any real success. I know you think you make some killer points, but they only convince people like you. You just don’t listen to others, you don’t even acknowledge the counter arguments, and that’s why you don’t make an impact.
It’s up to voters to decide who they want in the EU Parliament and whether existing MEPs are doing the a good job. Let’s see if the electorate agrees with you when they come to vote in 2014.
There’s no point “debating” with you. I’m done here. Enjoy having the last word.
sarntcrip
buch of failed tory lunaticsBLOOM IS A TYPICAL MEMBER