European Elections Hustings Evening

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Each of the five main UK political parties will be represented

Two local amenity societies, the Putney Society and the Wandsworth Society, have joined forces with several other local groups to arrange a hustings evening for the European Parliament elections which will take place on 22 May.

London is a single constituency (“region”) in the European Parliament returning 8 MEPs to Brussels/Strasbourg. These are currently 3 Conservative (share of vote in 2009 27.4%), 2 Labour (21.3%), 1 LibDem (13.7%), 1 Green (10.9%) and 1 UKIP (10.8%).

In total there are 751 MEPs of which 73 are BritisApril 25, 2014any has 96. Seats for each of the 28 countries are apportioned by population, with a minimum of 6 for the smallest countries.

The European Parliament is the only directly elected EU institution, has an equal say with national governments on nearly all EU laws and will have a decisive influence on who succeeds José Manuel Barroso in autumn 2014. Candidates are chosen by proportional representation rather than the UK Parliament’s First Past The Post system. Voters cast one vote for either a party list, with most parties offering several list candidates, or for an individual candidate standing as an independent. The number of MEPs elected from each party depends on the overall share of votes that each party receives.

Each of the five main UK political parties will be represented at the hustings by the following MEP list candidates:
• Conservative Party: Dr Charles Tannock
• Labour Party: Ivana Bartoletti
• Liberal Democrat Party: Richard Davis
• UK Independence Party: Paul Oakley
• Green Party: Amelia Womack

This event offers an important opportunity to meet prospective MEPs and hear more about their work on our behalf in the European Parliament. Following introductory statements from each candidate there will be an extended Q&A session.

All are welcome. Putney Pantry, located within St Mary’ s church, will be open for refreshments before the meeting.

April 24, 2014