UK Euro Elections - A Failure of Regional Policy

Having declared my vote as "Green" in both the County Council and European Parliament Elections, I shall now reflect upon the outcome of the latter.

First of all, though, I have to confess that whilst I voted "Green" pretty much without hesitation in the local elections, and will probably do so again in the general, the long ballot paper for the Euro elections caught me contemplating other parties. Yes, I too considered the option of voting for UKIP, the English Democrats, and another party represented by Dave Nellist (See - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Nellist)

Why ? Because, like many people, I view the European Union - notwithstanding the fact that it does some excellent work, on the environment and planning, for instance - and its over-expensed politicians and bloated bureaucrats, with some suspicion. Yes, I too, like the Labour Party, have to confess to something of a political split-personality.

Returning to "That Party", for whom I have not only voted but also been a member (until the election of Tony Blair as leader, that is), and for whom the outcome of the Euro Elections is an unmitigated disaster, I have to say that "We were Warned !", but the election of 2 British National Party MEPS still came as something of a shock !

A shock but not a surprise ! For the fact is that there are significant parts of the Nation (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), and sections of their populations, who are, in effect, in a "State" of managed decline. For sadly, much of UK regional policy - most particularly in England - is, to use the words of former Europe Minister Caroline Flint, a "window dressing".

Thus whilst it is the "Greens" who have displaced Labour in the "Growth" areas of the Southern England, it is the BNP who have done the same in areas of "Decline", typically the old industrial heartlands of the North of England. The result is that both parties now have two English MEPS.

In Scotland, for whom ownership of "The Land" (see below) has always been a key (perhaps "the key") issue, the Scottish National Party has fared rather better....than its banking sector

Euro-Election Results also @ http://janetmackinnon.wordpress.com/