Eurosceptics block reform so able to continue attacking EU

Sadly, the Written Declaration (the European Parliament's equivalent to an "Early Day Motion" in the House of Commons) calling on governments to allow the EP to hold all its sittings in Brussels, just failed to gather the target of 300 signatures that its authors had set themselves.

I was dismayed to discover many British MEPs had not bothered to sign the Declaration to reduce the time-wasting and costly junket to Strasbourg. Whilst British Labour MEPs supported the Declaration, the other UK political parties remained divided on the issue. A number of Tories, some Liberals and one of the two Greens failed to sign the Declaration. Most surprising of all, the leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, refused to sign (despite emailing me personally to say "for once, I think you may be right") as did four of the other 11 MEPs elected as UKIP in 2004.

UKIP is always quick to accuse the EU of wasting taxpayer's money, but given the chance to press for an end to the costly monthly travel to the French city, Farage and nearly half of his following prefer to retain the junket! It would appear that UKIPs claims to oppose waste in the EU are empty. They would prefer to retain the two seats in order to continue accusing the EU of waste!

Less surprising is that the elusive Kilroy-Silk was one of those who failed to sign the WD. Kilroy's absence from the Parliament is legendary, so he is probably of the opinion that this won't affect him too much.

Although this WD is of course not legally binding, if it had been adopted by the Parliament it would have sent a clear message to the Member States (who have the power take this decision). It is high time national governments revise the 1992 decision (at the Edinburgh European Council chaired by John Major) obliging Parliament to shift twelve weeks of the year to Strasbourg.

Taking a welcome break from wasting everybody's time with his bizarre claims about Marks and Spencer's "distorting mirrors", former UKIP MEP Robert Kilroy-Silk has been campaigning to increase the availability of cancer drugs Velcade and Tarceva in EU member states.

Quite legitimate and, indeed, laudable for Kilroy-Silk as an elected representative to raise this matter. However, he might bear in mind that decisions on the licensing of medicines are essentially a matter for individual countries, something that he was, presumably, fighting to maintain when he campaigned at the last European elections on a platform of opposing the EU having any powers whatsoever.

Moreover, last month Kilroy called on the EU to establish a system whereby health professionals who are banned from working in their own countries be put on a list so that they can be banned by all EU countries. Have Kilroy's three years as an MEP turned him into a Euro-federalist - I'm beginning to wonder?!?

Interesting to see again (following Mike Nattrass's suggestion that the EU should abolish bull-fighting) to see that another member elected under UKIP's banner is now calling for the adoption of EU measures instead of their repeal. Robert Kilroy-Silk has called for a system whereby health professionals who are banned from working in their own countries be put on a list so that they can be banned by all EU countries.

Sounds reasonable, but again hardly tallies with the usual diatribe against any EU legislation that comes from Kilroy and his ilk.

Robert Kilroy-Silk arrived in Brussels amid a blaze of self-publicity but since his election as an MEP for the East Midlands I can’t say I have seen him too many times in the European Parliament.

Since his election in 2004 he has spoken just seven times in the plenary, the last of which was in October 2005. He has not become a member of any committee nor tabled a single motion for resolution.

Intrigued by his whereabouts I visited his website, where it announces “This website will be updated with the work Robert Kilroy-Silk does”. The most recent update I can find is November 2004.

I was also interested to click on the link to the "Contact Me" section, especially when the link led to a page that simply read "error - failed". Quite.

Chris Heaton-Harris and Roger Helmer, two Tory MEPs in the East Midlands, have launched a 'Great Kilroy Hunt', and are putting their money where their mouths are…

A rather comical article in today's Scotsman discusses the outcome of Kilroy-Silk's 'week with the gypsies' for a TV documentary. It has the following inspired opening:

"In every Western society, there’s a group of people against whom it’s easy to be prejudiced. We don’t trust them, not do we like the way they look. We don’t know quite how they make a living. All we know is, they never seem settled, causing trouble wherever they go and leaving behind a mess. For all these reasons, the Kilroy-Silks of this world are an easy target for bigots."