Charles Moore writes in Today's Telegraph;
"As the joke goes, if you know who your local MEP is, you are that MEP. In Britain, we have never taken the elections to the European Parliament seriously. They have been little more than a chance for voters to let off steam by, for example, voting Ukip.
Things are different on the Continent, however, and so we are in danger of not understanding what is going on. The next Euro-elections are in May. It seems as if, for the first time ever, the status quo faces a challenge. Until now, the vast majority of MEPs has colluded in wanting “more Europe”. The parliament has gained greater powers to enforce this. Under the “Spitzenkandidat” system which now chooses the president of the European Commission, the parliament bands together to prevent an open contest and make sure that the next head is in the “right” mould.
Now, however, there is a real chance that insurgent “populist” parties could do well in the European elections, making the parliament plural in its European views as never before. Unrestricted immigration will almost certainly become harder. Someone might even be bold enough to call for “less Europe” in some areas.
This helps explain why France is in such a rage with Italy’s populist coalition just now. Its histrionic gesture of withdrawing its ambassador from Rome, for the first time since June 1940, should be seen as an electoral move.
It also helps explain why the EU powers want Brexit settled soon. They do not want British MEPs helping to lower the Euro-maniac proportions in the next European Parliament. To my amazement, I almost feel sorry I shan’t have a chance to vote in the next European election."
But I do ........ ho-ho!