The results of the local elections held on June 4th 2009 can be found here. (click to open in new window)
The results of the European Parliamentary elections for the UK South West region, held on June 4th 2009 are now available from the Regional Returning Officer. Interpretation is fiddly. First thing – the results for the South West region, of which Bristol is part:
2009 South West Turnout: 38.87% (compare to 37.8% in 2004)
Under the Proportional Representation (Party List) system, this translates into the following candidates being elected to the six parliamentary seats for the South West:
And the overall makeup of the European Parliament now looks like this:
Other than that, notwithstanding my congratulations to the winning candidates, it’s business as usual in Strasbourg. The party-of-parties, the European Peoples Party, of which the UK Conservatives used to be a constituent member report their success as follows (“EPP WINS THE EUROPEAN ELECTION”):
This new parliamentary term will be decisive for the European Parliament. With new, improved working methods, and the statute of co-legislator strengthened by - and we hope as quickly as possible - the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EP will be in a strategic position at the heart of European decision-making.
The EPP parliamentary Group will have a particular responsibility in Parliament in view of its position in this Institution and the weight of the challenges we face both internally and internationally.
The commitments made by the European People' s Party will be upheld. We can count not only on the biggest Group in the European Parliament, but also on the Heads of State and Government and Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, who is our candidate for a new 5-year term at the helm of the Commission, and on the other Commissioners from our political family.
Political will and ambition will continue to guide our actions.
Make of that what you will. One could argue that, in the debate between the people who like the European Union, the people who really like the EU, the people who love the EU and the people who like what the EU could be, a winner has emerged. As to which one of these descriptors to apply to which party, I’m damned if I can tell you.
Thankfully, the Conservatives have opted not to take part in the charade, and over the next few months, I hope the local team (including Bristolian Ashley Fox) will be working to build a political group in Parliament that is rather more sceptical of the promises of pan-European technocracy.
Note – traditionally in the UK we do not operate a continental style system of “Cumul des mandats”, so I presume there will be a by-election for Ashley Fox’s Westbury-on-Trym council seat.
