FIRST PAST THE POST AND FUTURE ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

As this motion is using historical data, we may not have the record of the original ordering, in which case signatories are listed alphabetically.

Amendments to this motion

There have been 4 amendments submitted to this motion.

View details of the amendments

Motion text

That this House notes the comments of the Right honourable Member for Greenwich and Woolwich, the Minister responsible for electoral law, that 'Any provisions on European Parliament elections laid down by the Council (including amendments to the 1976 Act) need to be ratified with an Act of Parliament in the UK'; further notes that the UK is, therefore, free to adopt any electoral system of its choosing for future elections to the European Parliament; believes that, by removing the vital link between each elected representative and their constituents and consequently encouraging voter apathy, proportional representation has not served the UK well; also notes with concern that proportional voting systems in other parts of Europe have allowed far-right parties to gain a foothold; and further believes that the UK's next elections to the European Parliament could, and should, be held under the First Past the Post electoral system.

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

Sheffield, Attercliffe

In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.

Birmingham, Hodge Hill

Dobbin, Jim

Labour

21 June 2002

Heywood and Middleton

Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

Runnymede and Weybridge

Penrith and The Border

Mahmood, Mr Khalid

Labour

21 June 2002

Birmingham, Perry Barr

North East Cambridgeshire

South West Bedfordshire

Spelman, Mrs Caroline

Finchley and Golders Green

Maidstone and The Weald

Sittingbourne and Sheppey

These members had previously signed the motion, but have now withdrawn their support. The date shown is when the Member withdrew their signature from the motion.

Plaskitt, Mr James

Labour

26 June 2002

Warwick and Leamington

Amendments (4)

After a motion has been tabled, other Members can table amendments to it. Amendments to this motion are shown below.

FIRST PAST THE POST AND FUTURE ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (Amendment 1)

after 'apathy', insert ', the closed list system of'.

Mr Adrian Sanders

Liberal Democrat, Torbay

signatures

EDM 1490A1: tabled on 25 June 2002

FIRST PAST THE POST AND FUTURE ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (Amendment 2)

leave out from 'that' to 'allowed' in line 9 and insert 'first past the post voting in English local elections has,'

Mr Adrian Sanders

Liberal Democrat, Torbay

signature

EDM 1490A2: tabled on 25 June 2002

FIRST PAST THE POST AND FUTURE ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (Amendment 3)

leave out from 'under' to end and add 'an open list system.'.

Mr Adrian Sanders

Liberal Democrat, Torbay

signature

EDM 1490A3: tabled on 25 June 2002

FIRST PAST THE POST AND FUTURE ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (Amendment 4)

leave out from 'UK' to end and add 'notes that honourable Members who support proportional voting systems, along with organisations such as the Electoral Reform Society, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform and Make Votes Count, all cautioned against the introduction of the closed list system which was used in the last European Parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom, and during the passage of the European Parliamentary Elections Act, secured from Ministers a commitment to review the system after that round of European elections; requests the Government to report progress on such a review; believes that to promote democracy, any new system adopted for European Parliamentary elections should both allow voter choice between candidates as well as between parties, and provide for the number of seats won broadly to reflect the proportion of votes cast for each party; registers its concern at the increasing disconnection between citizens and the political process both in the United Kingdom and in other parts of Europe, revealed in both low turnouts and the rise of the far right; and urges the Government to look at creative ways of empowering voters and promoting citizenship to address these threats to democracy.'.

Richard Burden

Labour, Birmingham, Northfield

signatures

EDM 1490A4: tabled on 26 June 2002

EDM (Early Day Motion) 1490: tabled on 21 June 2002

Amendments to this motion

Motion text

Signatures (87)

Amendments (4)