Do You Know Who Your Mep Is?

[plowter]

Have never heard from my MSP in 9 years - no newsletter, no update, nothing.
Do you know who your MEP is? Do you know what they do?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdLIerfXuZ4

[plowter]

From the website:

"The European Parliament Office in the UK regularly hosts events to engage the public in the work of the European Parliament and the British MEPs. "

http://www.europarl.org.uk/en/home/upcoming_events.html

Anything you fancy going to?

You can find details of your MEP here:

http://www.europarl.org.uk/en/your_meps/list-meps-by-region.html

Anyone you recognise or have even heard of?

[DaisyNonna]

Kinnock, sincere? chortles

[tonyav]

Bloody hell, one of our's in the West Mids used to be in Eastenders for gawds sake !.

[EDDIE51]

I had no idea who my MEP was but after a bit of Googling I find I have 7 of them!
Apparently my region (UK Eastern) has 7 MEPs and we can ask any of them for help. It seems it is the same for all the UK each region has 7 MEPs who share responsibility for their area. You learn something every day I thought I had just one MEP not 7.

[tonyav]

It's buy one get six free, EDDIE.

[EDDIE51]

On further reading I find I have 4 Conservative MEPs, 1 Labour, 1 Lib Dem and 1 UKIP.

[DaisyNonna]

Mine's Green. Does that mean he doesn't know what he's doing, is sick or envious?

[tonyav]

Or the Incredible Hulk, Daisy.

[ludwig]

No and no.

[starone]

Haven't a clue, but wouldn't mind earning that amount for doing virtually nothing.

[emmie]

Kinnock sincere, wow.

[emmie]

eight that represent London, just another gravy train

http://www.europarl.org.uk/

[mikey4444]

Ann Clwyd, and she has and still is doing a fine job :::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Clwyd

We need more people like Ann.

[Mosaic]

My MEP is Brian Simpson, IMO incompetent and desperate for his electorate to leave him alone.

[LazyGun]

My constituency is part of the Eastern Region which sends 8 MEPs off to the european parliament. The Labour guy is reasonably active within the region, in the sense that I have seen adverts for surgeries and meetings he is hosting; The UKip guy posts regular updates in the local paper about how many euro-parliament resolutions he has voted against; and, err, that's about it.

I think MPs and MEPs are reactive rather than pro-active, and tend to take their constituents for granted. Plus which I think the salary+expenses package they receive is extortionate for what they do. I also object to the fact that they pay a standardised euro-tax, rather than being paying tax to the exchequer of the country they represent.

[ichkeria]

Yes I know who our MEP is. We usually only gear from him at election time. In fairness though I'm not sure I would expect him to contact us normally. Why would he do that? Especially as he is a Tory and possibly not all that keen in the EU or being seen to 'waste' money on the sort of literature that our Westminster MP sends.
Most people probably don't care about the European Parliament understandably. They don't vote in the elections and generally moan. Which is probably a oity. There are a lot of people who have a disproportionately large infkuence on our lives who never stand for election. And I'd like to think I could call on his Lordship if ever I needed him.

[New Judge]

What would you call on him for? He has no power or influence over anything that the EU does that might affect you.

[Gromit]

You do not have 1 MEP you have several.

European constituencies are in regions. For example, if you live in London and vote in the European elections you will return 8 MEPs. The vote is proportional, so if the total votes cast is 50% Conservative and 50% Labour then 4 MEPs from each party are elected.

[Gromit]

Use this link to find who your MEPs are

http://www.europarl.org.uk/en/your_meps/list-meps-by-region.html;jsessionid=166587711E988A0742910070D8F2BACA

[emmie]

eight times payments on salary, expenses, what a gross waste of time, money.