ukip back turning

sungod

i see that the ukip meps turned their backs on the orchestra in parliament today

about what i'd expect from bigoted, pathetic, obnoxious, ill-mannered scum, but still a disgusting sight that only damages the uk's image

if the ukip oafs don't like democracy, fine, they can stay home, give their salaries to charity and save the taxpayers the cost of paying their expenses

/grrr

anyway, i'm off out to find a brasserie and have a nice euro meal with a euro colleague

MountainMonster

So, what did I miss?

MountainMonster

OK, just came across the news article on BC. What a bunch of idiots, and these people are there representing England. I'm not even English and I find their behaviour utterly repulsive.

Frank the tank

As "sungod" alluded to, they won't be sending their salary cheques back will they. :evil:

Stevo_666

Playing Devils advocate here, at least they are trying to represent UK interests in their own rather rude and amateurish way - which is more than you can ever say about the EU

orraloon

Stevo 666 wrote:

at least they are trying to represent UK interests in their own rather rude and amateurish way:

While noting the wink, they are representing their own rather narrow and self-serving interests, not those of the UK as a whole. Embarrassing toxxers. No wink.

random man

I wonder what they'll do if they get their wish and Britain pulls out of the EU? Maybe they haven't thought of that.

Giraffoto

random man wrote:

I wonder what they'll do if they get their wish and Britain pulls out of the EU? Maybe they haven't thought of that.

At a guess, start campaigning against "the enemy within". . .

imposter2.0

orraloon wrote:

While noting the wink, they are representing their own rather narrow and self-serving interests, not those of the UK as a whole. Embarrassing toxxers. No wink.

They're not supposed to represent the 'UK as a whole' - just the constituencies that elected them.

Paulie W

Imposter wrote:

orraloon wrote:

While noting the wink, they are representing their own rather narrow and self-serving interests, not those of the UK as a whole. Embarrassing toxxers. No wink.

They're not supposed to represent the 'UK as a whole' - just the constituencies that elected them.

You do realise members of the European Parliament dont have constituencies?

imposter2.0

Paulie W wrote:

Imposter wrote:

orraloon wrote:

While noting the wink, they are representing their own rather narrow and self-serving interests, not those of the UK as a whole. Embarrassing toxxers. No wink.

They're not supposed to represent the 'UK as a whole' - just the constituencies that elected them.

You do realise members of the European Parliament dont have constituencies?

MEPs are elected to represent regions within the UK. A constituency is defined as a group of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body. The EU even refers to them as 'electoral constituencies', so what else would you call it?

CiB

Frank the tank wrote:

As "sungod" alluded to, they won't be sending their salary cheques back will they. :evil:

UKIP MEPs give a proportion of their income to the party. The rest is theirs to do as they please with, but will have to cover normal costs such as admin, travel etc. It's a generous system so they won't be short, but I don't see why they should be expected to work for free. They stood openly for their views on Europe and the whole European Parliament fiasco, enough people voted for them to get them in.

Paulie W

Imposter wrote:

Paulie W wrote:

Imposter wrote:

orraloon wrote:

While noting the wink, they are representing their own rather narrow and self-serving interests, not those of the UK as a whole. Embarrassing toxxers. No wink.

They're not supposed to represent the 'UK as a whole' - just the constituencies that elected them.

You do realise members of the European Parliament dont have constituencies?

MEPs are elected to represent regions within the UK. A constituency is defined as a group of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body. The EU even refers to them as 'electoral constituencies', so what else would you call it?

Welll I'd call them electoral regions as they are more commonly known. They dont function in the way that constituencies do in the UK parliament as I'm sure you know not least because not all member states elect their MEPs on a regional basis. The regions are primarily a way of managing the electoral process rather than a way of giving the regions a specific voice.

imposter2.0

Paulie W wrote:

Welll I'd call them electoral regions as they are more commonly known.

Otherwise known as constituencies, ffs. Jesus fella - it's ok to call them constituencies - get over it and move on...

Paulie W

Imposter wrote:

Paulie W wrote:

Welll I'd call them electoral regions as they are more commonly known.

Otherwise known as constituencies, ffs. Jesus fella - it's ok to call them constituencies - get over it and move on...

MEPs have feck all to do with their 'constituencies' - you were basically trying to make a point that didn't stand up to scrutiny. Just accept that then we can move on...

DeVlaeminck

If they are elected by regions and part of their function is to represent those regions then constituencies seems a fair description, they may be regional constituencies but they are still constituencies.

Anyway on to the back turning, it may be a bit futile but a peaceful protest at the playing of the anthem of the EU seems fair enough. I'm not particularly one for national anthems anyway but for the EU to start taking on the trappings of a nation state is surely a natural think for a UKIP MEP to disapprove of. I don't think that behaviour is repulsive or non-democratic - if anything it probably represents the feelings of a large minority or even a majority of the population of this country.

imposter2.0

Paulie W wrote:

Imposter wrote:

Paulie W wrote:

Welll I'd call them electoral regions as they are more commonly known.

Otherwise known as constituencies, ffs. Jesus fella - it's ok to call them constituencies - get over it and move on...

MEPs have feck all to do with their 'constituencies' - you were basically trying to make a point that didn't stand up to scrutiny. Just accept that then we can move on...

ok - your ignorance has made me do this....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_P ... nstituency
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constituency

And finally - taken from the European Parliament website:

MEPs divide their time between their constituencies, Strasbourg - where 12 plenary sittings a year are held - and Brussels, where they attend additional plenary sittings, as well as committee and political group meetings.

You are of course welcome to call them electoral regions. But please don't tell me they are not 'constituencies'. Now move along....

drlodge

'Constituencies' seems like an appropriate term to use in this context. Irrespective, I think we all know what is meant so really no need to argue to point to death. The horse is dead, stop beating it.

pblakeney

drlodge wrote:

'Constituencies' seems like an appropriate term to use in this context. Irrespective, I think we all know what is meant so really no need to argue to point to death. The horse is dead, stop beating it.

How else do we make it nice and tender a la Francais?

ddraver

drlodge wrote:

'Constituencies' seems like an appropriate term to use in this context. Irrespective, I think we all know what is meant so really no need to argue to point to death. The horse is dead, stop beating it.

drlodge, mee Imposter...

:roll:

Jez mon

They are sort of doing what they were elected to do. Admittedly, in a rather rude and little Englander fashion.

It'll be interesting (possibly worrying) to see how UKIP do at the general election.

imposter2.0

Jez mon wrote:

They are sort of doing what they were elected to do. Admittedly, in a rather rude and little Englander fashion.

Agreed. If they were trying to make a statement, they could have just remained seated while everyone else stood. To actually stand and turn their backs was - quite literally - ignorant.

Jez mon

Imposter wrote:

Jez mon wrote:

They are sort of doing what they were elected to do. Admittedly, in a rather rude and little Englander fashion.

Agreed. If they were trying to make a statement, they could have just remained seated while everyone else stood. To actually stand and turn their backs was - quite literally - ignorant.

Sure, and that's apparently what some Tories did. But ultimately, that doesn't make quite the same news article and UKIP seems to be all about drumming up press.

tangled_metal

Thing is though, turning your back on someone or something is a recognised form of protest. It's used elsewhere without the accusation of being ignorant or little Englander. Of course anything to do with UKIP engenders the view that any protest they do is based on prejudice. With some of them it is highly likely to be the case of course. Another view is that it's Europe, anything related to Europe is polarised. Your for or , rarely taking a compromise. Put two polarizing factors, UKIP and EU, no-one will agree. Heck there's even been an argument over constituencies or regions!
My personal view is EU is not a nation so a national anthem, unofficial I should point out, should not exist. It is a provocative thing for anti-federalists and just plain anti's like UKIP.

imposter2.0

Tangled Metal wrote:

Thing is though, turning your back on someone or something is a recognised form of protest. It's used elsewhere without the accusation of being ignorant or little Englander. .

Yes, but in that situation, they actually had to stand up before they could turn their backs. You're not wrong, but the simplest thing to do would have been to remain seated. Either that or they could have shouted down the orchestra with a rousing chorus of 'God save the Queen', whilst furiously waving the flag of St George...

florerider

If they do not want to take part then they should not have stood for election. They were elected to represent the interests of their constituents, not behave boorishly. If this is how English MEPs behave, then is it any wonder they do not win their case.

Would this be acceptable behaviour at the opening of the House of Commons? If not, then it is not acceptable elsewhere.

MattC59

It's quite simply childish behaviour and to me just reinforces why they shouldn't be given the time of day, let alone anyone's vote.