Corbett shocked by 'disgraceful' Hannan
Richard Corbett, Socialist spokesperson on Constitutional Affairs in the European Parliament, has expressed shock after Tory MEP Dan Hannan compared President Pöttering to Hitler. However, Hannan's protest backfired spectacularly when the leader of his political Group, Joseph Daul, threatened to expel him.
Richard said: "Dan Hannan's comparison of President Pottering to Hitler was absolutely disgraceful and he is likely to be rightly expelled from the EPP as a result.
"Hannan has protested that his rights as an MEP are being 'censored', that minority views were being crushed. 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. This is not about their freedom of expression - simply about whether he and others have an absolute right to delay proceedings of the House if they choose to do so.
"The European Parliament rules have not been changed. All that has happened is a confirmation, under parliament procedures, that Rule 19 already allows the President of Parliament 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.'"
This is a reserve power that has only once been used - by President Pat Cox some five years ago - but is essential to protect Parliament, if necessary, from attempts to bring it to a halt. The president of the European Parliament anyway has far less drastic powers than the Speaker of the House of Commons
Richard then asked: "Will Hannan now be disowned by Cameron and by his Tory colleagues in the European Parliament who, at committee stage, supported this interpretation of the Rule?"
- Richard Corbett is Deputy Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party
more information
Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP
- phone 0113 245 8987
- e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk
© 2003-2006 Richard Corbett MEP