The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Coun Gary Taylor (February 25) considers the EU an undemocratic institution.
EU law – aside from the major treaties – is enacted by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.
The parliament is elected by proportional representation, which is fairer than the British first-past-the-post system (for example, UKIP got a substantial representation in the EU parliament, in proportion to its support, whereas in the British parliament it got one seat, despite considerable support.)
The representatives at the Council of Ministers are appointed by member countries from their own elected governments.
Coun Taylor needn’t look far for something truly undemocratic.
The present UK government is driving through major programmes virtually unchecked, some of them with significant impact on our society.
In some cases it has even attempted to threaten long-cherished rights such as our access to justice, though fortunately without complete success so far.
And its mandate for this almost unfettered power? It received 37 per cent of the national vote at the last election!
37 per cent, Coun Taylor: a true minority on which to base so much power.
That said, the EU does need to improve: the project is big and long-term.
It is in need of those who will roll up their sleeves and bring qualities of far-sightedness and principle to the task.
Britain could do better in both those respects than it has done in recent times.
It wasn’t, for instance, either principle or far-sightedness that made Britain a major driving force for the too-rapid expansion of the EU; it was simple market greed.
However, what’s done’s done, and is now something that needs to be coped with, and it needs big men to do it.
John Tippler
Spalding
