Will you be voting in the European Elections this month?
More than 400 million people are eligible to vote in this month’s European Parliament elections, in one of the biggest democratic exercises in the world.
Due to the uncertainty around how the Brexit negotiations will play out the European Commission has insisted that the UK take part in European Parliamentary Elections on 23rd May.
But will the elections be completely irrelevant if Brexit is pushed through before 31st October?
Some believe that they could be a sounding board for a host of other domestic political issues, including the viability of new political parties – and the sustainability of established ones.
The parties putting up candidates are as follows: Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Change UK, The Green Party, Plaid Cymru, SNP, The Northern Ireland Parties, The Brexit Party, UK Independence Party.
Officials are understood to have estimated this year’s cost to be “around £150million”, expected to include about £96million for officers and other staff and a further £50million for posting polling cards and information.
Who will you be voting for? Vote in our anonymous poll <<<
What are your views? Are you intending to vote in the European Elections? How do you feel about this amount of money being spent in this way?
What are your views?
We'd love to hear your comments
Log in to comment
You need to be logged in to interact with Silversurfers. Please use the button below if you already have an account.
LoginNot a member?
You need to be a member to interact with Silversurfers. Joining is free and simple to do. Click the button below to join today!
JoinCommunity Terms & Conditions
Content standards
These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.
You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.
Contributions must:
be accurate (where they state facts); be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.
Contributions must not:
contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or promote sexually explicit material; or promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or be likely to deceive any person; or be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or promote any illegal activity; or be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.
Nurturing a safe environment
Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.
We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!
Before the referendum, some said, "oh, don't worry about citizens from other EU countries in the UK. It'll all be automatic".
Now we know the truth. The people who said "It'll be automatic" didn't tell you the truth. They misled you. They were dishonest to you. Do they deserve your trust?
1. Not at anytime did I assume that „it would all be automatic“.
2. The EU settlement scheme application is straightforward... there is even an App for it don’t you know.
3. All EU citizens living in the UK were able to choose to vote in the European elections here or in their home country. I chose to vote here.
4. Last but not least: Am I concerned that the Brexit Party won most seats? ... Not in the least.
Why?
- Secure citizens' rights. Both EU nationals and British in Europe.
- Protect the peace in Ireland.
- Keep EU projects.
This country's essential interests are at the heart of Europe. The future of this country is completely linked with the future of continental Europe and Ireland. As Heseltine has said.
Europe was once the battlefield of the world. Never forget that. As Guy Verhofstadt has said in the European Parliament.
Yes there are problems. So we need to stand up for values. Like human dignity, human rights, equality, democracy, and the rule of law. We need to stand up for a peaceful, tolerant, united Europe more than ever.
We face Russia, China, USA, human trafficking, fake medicines, unsafe childrens' toys, climate, corporate tax avoidance...
The UK has helped to build today's Europe. The single market was "a British idea", said Vidar Helgesen of Norway. The way to tackle these cross-border problems is a cross-border way.
With our nearest friends, neighbours, and allies.
Vote tomorrow.
Whoever you choose, choose Europe.
He says that the NHS is efficient.
But the number of people going through the system is, loads.
Have you read the report from the Lancet? About the number of ways EU membership is good for the NHS?
Have you read the Balance of Competences Review on health? tinyurl.com/balcomp.
EU cooperation on things like the European Medicines Agency. Like the European Monitoring Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
In fact we have seen today one disastrous result of EU policy with British Steel going into administration.
It began to declare profits post 2016.
But then it fell foul of the European Union's carbon tax. A tax on something of near-zero relevance to Climate change, and the immediate cause of British Steel requiring a £100 million emergency loan from the government just one month ago to pay the tax - and thus avoid a further fine from Brussels.
Does anyone think either Mrs Merkel or President Macron would have just stood by and watched in silence as one of their steel making firms went to the wall.?
"Near zero relevance to climate change" - I think many would take issue with that statement! Little enough may be, but efforts must start somewhere. At least the EU is taking it seriously.
British Steel's order book will be better when the rest of the world knows that the UK is definitely staying in the EU.
Staying in the EU protects British Steel's carbon credits. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme to 2020.
Please see the article in The New European on British Steel. 23 May 2019.
The South East electoral region for the European Parliament has as many people as the whole of Hungary.
Hungary figure for 2014. Source: "How the European Union works", EU Publications Office.
EU automotive manufacturers have raised concerns over restrictions on these steel imports as the tariffs 'a real risk' to automotive sector.
So by definition the EU is protectionist and yes, that benefits EU steel manufacturers but, as explained, not EU motor manufacturers.
Meanwhile, once again, it was an EU tax on British Steel that eventually sent them into administration.
The British people responded to the EU in no uncertain way yesterday.
The UK is a sovereign nation.
Every country in EU is a sovereign nation.
We use our sovereign power to take part in a bigger thing. The European Union.
The agreements we make, we honour.
There has to be a court, to decide points of law that come from those agreements. We honour that.
And help to run it. Chief advocate from the UK: Eleanor Sharpston QC.
We have nothing to fear and everything to gain.
"We are in charge of our own judicial system. We are in charge of our own trading, etc.
The UK is a sovereign nation.
Every country in EU is a sovereign nation.
We use our sovereign power to take part in a bigger thing. The European Union.
The agreements we make, we honour.
There has to be a court, to decide points of law that come from those agreements. We honour that.
And help to run it. Chief advocate from the UK: Eleanor Sharpston QC".
Well we really would expect someone from the 'establishment to write such a load of tosh.
When the ECJ is a point of appeal AFTER the highest court in the UK has made a decision what on earth is the woman talking about.
The ECJ is only about the shared law. The law that the member countries have made together.
This country has signed up to agreements that apply equally in all the other countries too. It has to be fair and consistent. To make a level playing field.
It all seems reasonable to me.
Of course it takes precedence over national law. That's how it works. Shared European law needs a shared European court.
Have a look at the Annual Report of the Court of Justice of the EU for 2018.
There are two courts. The lower court hears cases first. The upper court is like an appeal court.
You say that rules that the UK has to enforce, are not being enforced by the UK?
Whose fault is that? The UK, not EU.
Insecure work is a problem all over Europe.
Example?
Look at the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. It's called Eurofound. It's an EU agency.
Look at Eurofound's report "Feelings of insecurity widespread in Europe". 9 Oct 2018.
Why do I comment here so much?
Because my father handled nuclear bombs that were going to be used on Poland. At the age of six I was at RAF Bruggen in Germany with no idea what it was really for.
And because I never knew my grandfather. He was on the convoy to Malta in the war and died after the war by shooting himself in the head. My mother was not told what really happened until much later,
So it breaks my heart when I see people here who seem to be worried about how the EU works. When did the Prime Minister last explain?
Suppose you want to change the EU voting system. Or make the EU responsible for something it's not responsible for at the moment.
How'd you do it?
It needs the agreement of every national leader. And then the agreement of every national parliament.
In some countries, a referendum to allow it. That's why Ireland and Denmark have had loads of referendums.
Please see 'The European Union explained - how the European Union works' from EU Publications Office.
It's hardly surprising the people who understand the EU best are the EU.
This, you will recognise is ironic.
The consequence of the CO2 air miles to import such goods is horrific.
I have asked my useless Conservative MP about my vegan and vegetarian concerns. He has chosen not to reply..what a surprise!
But what about Welsh hill farmers? Some land can only be used for animals.
One of the reforms to the EU common agricultural policy is to give upland farms better and more equal support.
And a lot of lamb from Wales goes tariff free and easily to the rest of Europe. Which it can do. Because it meets EU food standards for countries inside EU.
Please see 'The European Union explained - food safety' from EU Publications Office.
Extra help for hill farmers.
The audit report has been published every year since the first one for 1977-78.
Do you know of misconduct? That's a serious allegation... The EU meets international accounting standards.
It has high standards because it is about shared trust. Do you know of something the European Ombusdman should know about?
Given a choice it's the EU for me.....
We really need not just to leave the EU but once and for all setting our own house in order.
Whoever you choose.
Choose Europe.
3 million citizens of other EU countries in the UK. 1.2 million British in Europe. Their heartbreaking stories of abandonment and uncertainty are in the books 'In Limbo' and 'In Limbo Too'. Compiled by Elena Remigi.
It is not a federal system like the United States.
Please see "The European Parliament - the Citizens' Voice in the EU" from EU Publications Office.
Easy to find online. Just do a search for the title.
Have you thought of voting Green?
Because this election is much more like every vote counts.
The Green Party is linked to the group of Greens and European Free Alliance in the European Parliament.
The leader of the group is Phillips Lamberts MEP and he is fantastic.
His speech about the contradictions of Theresa May, and how a democratic Europe is possible was brilliant. 3 October 2017. Would you like a link to the transcript and video?
And that's what the EU is for.
Support the values we have in common. Human rights. Solidarity. Democracy. Equality. The rule of law.
The point of EU law is to settle cross-border issues in court. Instead of the old way of violence.
To make a shared body of law applied equally and fairly. It is a wonderful achievement.
It means legally binding agreements.
With legal remedies in case of problems.
That's what the EU is for.
The countries of Europe trust each other not just for the sake of it. They trust each other because there are remedies.
How much of what's said in the European Parliament have you seen?
Where is "Yesterday in the European Parliament" on Radio 4?
Education needs a shake up.
Is Northern Ireland part of the UK? Yes.
Is free movement a free for all? No.
Is access to benefits a free for all? No.
Are asylum papers the same as Schengen visas? No.
If you are in Nigeria and you want to visit Belgium, can you just turn up? No. You have to apply and prove your income and your itinerary and a copy of your marriage certificate if you are coming as a couple...
What does the customs union mean? What is the single market for? What is the Agricultural Guarantee Fund? How does EU medicines licencing work?
He should have to live with the shame what he's done. So should help his Eton chum B Johnson even more so.
What about decades of nonsense in English newspapers?
The European Commission had kept a list. Look for Euromyths blog online. Even an A-Z index.
EU policy on GM is stricter than US.
Animal welfare is higher than US.
For example. The UK was the first to ban veal creates. An EU wide ban followed later.
The sister party of the Lib Dems in the European Parliament.
Did you know you can join the ALDE Party too? I have.
Its leader is Guy Verhofstadt MEP.
He's been to Belfast and to London. He's met citizens' groups like the3million. Like British in Europe.
He's got far more care for this country than certain people I could mention.
No thanks I am supporting Nigel Farage in the European Elections.
Best Regards
Someone who stands for a peaceful, united and tolerant Europe?
Someone widely respected?
Someone like Elmar Brok, or Manfred Weber, or Udo Bullmann, or Seb Dance, or Catherine Bearder, or Richard Corbett, or Phillipe Lamberts?
I went on the rallies. In London, and in Brussels, and Luxembourg.
Met British people from Spain at the rally in Brussels. A German woman who had lived in the UK since she was a teenager cried on my shoulder.
The European Council said the top three issues are
1. Citizens' rights
2. Northern Ireland
3. EU funding.
It said it regrets the situation because millions of people have built their lives on the UK's membership. Businesses benefit from the legal certainty of EU law.
The European Parliament has published its impact studies.
The European Commission had spelt out things well in Notices to Stakeholders.
The EU does a better job of looking after us than some of our own people.
However, if as I expect, a true Brexit does not happen for whatever reason, we shall be tied to Europe and will need to be thoughtfully yet strongly represented rather than having a school-yard attitude of 'yah, boo, sucks'. If we are still in Europe, we need people who will work for our best interests in what is likely to be a hostile environment.
I shall not be voting for any of the Remainer parties, and think that (in my area) independent candidates are the way forward, as they can consider and vote for policies they actually believe in and want to enact rather than following any party whip.
I hate the PR system. There are several good candidates – one is the first-placed Tory, but they are allied with some pretty hopeless ones on the same party ticket. I wish I could select the several individuals I wanted rather than a party list.
Just as no country can be forced to join. No member country can be forced not to be a member.
So what bothers you, BaW?
Have you seen the Nobel Peace Prize on show at the European Commission?
Would you like to say yes to the most successful democratic peace project the world has ever seen?
The goal is to make something that you're happy with.
Good questions deserve good answers. Tell us why?
Did you know the accounts have always been audited?
First report published in 1978.
But he "didn't want Cameron to win by too much"
How many more are there like him?
So what's wrong, what's stopping you saying yes to Europe?
Nowt to do with the EU we elect our own reps to our own parliament for our own laws, not the french or German or anyone else
Would you like to send your comments in to your local paper?
Negative voices must be countered. Mistrust must be taken seriously.
Please see Sir Ivan Rogers' book of "nine lessons".
Best Regards
One of the lessons is the EU is a legalistic organisation based on a rule of law.
It can not and will not jump things around to suit one particular member just like that. It is not possible and rightly so because it has to be fair.
In 2002 I was in the Conservatives but it lapsed and I never renewed it because the Conservatives never asked me to.
I am not here to spoonfeed you. I am not doing your work for you. I will tell you where is a good place to find answers.
While door knocking in Downley in High Wycombe a woman at a door told me she thought the EU makes rules in "secret".
Thank you for admitting that the EU publishes its work. All the agreements made are legal documents published.
An improvement on the woman in Downley, Lionel.
What's your name and where are you? Are you mentioned in the local paper? I am, in Bucks Free Press.
Local press? You at least gave me a smile! But that's another story you needn't know.
Next Pulse of Europe in High Wycombe, Sunday 2 June. 2 pm, Church St.
Meaning what?
Are you adding insult to injury dear boy?
Please see article 2 of the 2007 Lisbon Treaty.
To join the EU, a country has to support these values.
A country where women are unfairly paid less for the same work?
A country that discriminates against people because of their nationality, race, or belief?
A country where children are forced to work?
That country cannot join the EU.
Sad indeed.
Rant over for now...
I will not vote for Chukka and Soubury as I do not agree to elected politicians being able to change horses half way through a race without due by-elections.
I would argue that, among others, Britain joined the EU (1973) 28 years after world war 2 as a way to avoid our economic decline.
The UK's per capita GDP relative to the EU founding members' declined steadily from 1945 to 1972.
Under Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, there was a UK referendum on continued membership of the EEC in 1975.
This country has gained more from being in the EU for 46 years than any losses sustained.
The UK's 'net contribution' was estimated at nearly £9 billion last year. Each year the UK gets a discount on its contributions to the EU—the 'rebate'—worth about £5.6 billion last year.
Swings and roundabouts...
The worst bits of the Common Agricultural Policy have been fixed.
Giving farmers a consistent living despite the unpredictable world prices and losses from weather and disease...
Intellectual property in plant seeds. There's an EU agency for that.
Presticides. The European Chemicals Agency helps.
The worst thing is the UK Rural Payments Agency. They're the ones who cause delays.
Did you know EU farm funding also helps pay for nature reserves?
The study on agriculture heard from farmers.
See: tinyurl.com/balcomp
Did you know, Fenland celery is a protected origin food in EU?
Look at intellectual property in plant seeds... Look at the type of potato used to make crisps. One of them is called Lady Rosetta.
Who owns the Lady Rosetta variety? A Dutch company. The European Plant Variety Office is an EU agency.
Did you know potato diseases is a problem all over Northern Europe? There's been a conference about it in Scotland.
Stopping South American potato disease getting to Europe. National farm ministers have made EU rules about that.
There's still a big question among sheep farmers about foot and mouth from 2001. So many, like me, believe it was a deliberate EU import.
Much the same with the over blown case of BSE which is tetanus in cattle, otherwise known as the staggers. Europe had it and then suddenly we had it. Not we didn't.
The Staggers has been with us since before I can remember and I'm an old country lad. Nothing new except the number of cattle who succumbed. Imported beef on the hoof from Europe. No accident then.
I am not persuaded by this “They have no policies” argument. They don’t need any! Just Leave. If they decide to fight it, I’m sure they will produce policies for the next General
Election.
The Prime Minister’s “deal” is a sell out. Like many others I read up the terms I didn’t fully understand - like Single Market and Customs Union - BEFORE I voted!
So I may be ignorant, but I’m not a racist nor a fascist, and being called all those and more by Remainers just makes me more determined to teach Remain MPs a lesson.
And changing the Leader won’t solve the problem. Sadly. I really hope it can be proved in our Courts that we did Leave on 29 March.
What's wrong with the achievement of the EU?
The UK is a legal member of the European Union.
Recognised world wide in international law.
Please see Senior European Experts page. Yes, sorry about experts...
It means to have an agreement.
Have you looked at Sir Ivan Rogers' evidence to the Treasury Select Committee?
Mary Honeyball MEP is on it.
Equality between men and women is in the 2007 Reform treaty. Aka Lisbon treaty.
The fight against human trafficking. EU helps. Human trafficking affects women the most.
It is a group of democratic countries.
The issue of the day is Brexit. Who is most likely to get us out quickly and with a clean break? Only The Brexit Party!
I voted to leave just like the majority of the country.
Whatever happened to democracy?
However I completely agree with your last sentence about voting for the Brexit Party in these elections.
The UK should no longer be a member, but to leave on the terms of the WA which reduces the UK to complete subservience would be a disaster.
I shall be voting Brexit.
Remain supporters who are afraid of change have no guarantees that remaining in the EU will be of any benefit to the UK.. for example how would they handle the stated intention to put all members into the Euro. Unless of course we are just a “colony” of the EU?
If a future generation wishes to rejoin the EU they can. They can decide if the terms offered are acceptable or not and it will not be detrimental to their lives.
We do not “crash out” if we exit on WTO rules. It is perfectly viable although I agree there may be possible initial disruption. The emotive terms, lies and forecasts of doom and gloom fed by project fear. For some reason some idiotic remainers seem to believe eU countries will not sell to us after we leave- do you think the EU will trash their economies not to sell to us. We cannot even believe either HM treasury or the BofE when in the space of 6 weeks the latter growth forecasts doubled? Numerous other economists have shown WTO can work, even the EU’s own reports say it will.
However, regardless of that the issue now is one of democracy. Are we or are we not a democratic country? If the answer to that question is yes, then we should be leaving the EU, the customs union and the single market as we were promised, or threatened with, depending on your stance, by every political party during the lead up to the referendum. A failure to leave under these terms of a failure of democracy.
We want our independence back so that we are are our own country.
We have so much to right once we get rid of these people that have ruined our lives for so long now. It is sad that people think that when they see a board at the side of the road saying this was built by money from the EU that they actually think it is EU money. Ii is our own money being retrieved for our use. Brain washing at it's best.
Good luck everyone, I have my Postal Vote Papers, and with a choice of 9 parties, with 10 candidates each and 3 Independents...I’ll do my best for the unborn generation. Love to you all xx
This Government is the worst we have ever had, although I do think Theresa May has tried to please everyone and been stabbed in the back for it. They want her out but who would replace her?
No deal should never have been taken off the table and Nigel Farage says it will be brought back if the Brexit Party win! I certainly hope they do.