letter to the editor from Richard Corbett MEP

21st February 2008

Private Eye

Dear Editor,

It  was disappointing to see Private Eye meekly accept Dan Hannan's absurd claim that the European Parliament  is out to “crush any opposition”. This is simply not true. The European Parliament has a very wide range of political views and speaking time in debates is shared out proportionately among all the political groups - so all views are heard in the debates.

Just as importantly it is incorrect to suggest the European Parliament's rules have been changed. They have not . All that has happened is confirmation, under parliament procedures, that the President of Parliament is allowed to call an end to excessive use of motions such as points of order, procedural motions, etc where they are 'manifestly intended to cause, and will result in, a prolonged and serious obstruction of the business of the House'.

The European Paliament's president has far fewer powers than the Speaker of the House, in the Commons, and Dan Hannan's freedom of expression has not been infringed. Instead the parliament merely followed its own rules, which stop an indivdual from having the absolute right to delay proceedings, a rule shared by many other parliaments across the world, including Britain's.

Yours,

Richard Corbett

Labour MEP for Yorkshire & Humber
Blenheim Terrace, Leeds