The Next Big Election

On June 4th 2009 there will be an election to a body that represents 515 000 000 people. No it's not another drawn out US Presidential Election campaign. This one, especially in this country, will be quiet and reserved because it is of course nearly time for the elections for the European Parliament. 

The last election had a turn out of 37.6% in the United Kingdom, a figure that should disgust both European Unionist (federalists is such an American word, let's try and use more British words) and Eurosceptics alike. 

The European Union is a grand project that needs a good kick up the backside. The Union right now is not a marriage of love but one of convenience and it's time someone changed this. Where are the visionaries screaming for a democratic revolution within the EU, where is the EU's Barack Obama to stir up feelings of hope and a sense of a future with purpose. 

Here in the UK the EU elections are often a boon for the smaller parties. The Tories do well usually and it'd be nice to give that populalist toff David Cameron a bloody nose with a surprisingly poor showing in June. Labour could also do with a swift kicking but we must all be wary of the rise of UKIP and, worse, the BNP. Perhaps it is time for some vote swapping between regions between Greens, Lib Dems and Labourites in an attempt to ensure the Tories, UKIP and the BNP do not make gains and perhaps suffer some reverses in their fortunes. Certainly keeping the BNP out of Europe should be a goal we all desire. 

I have always voted Green at the EU elections but may well switch my vote to Lib Dem this year (especially as I'm no longer in Dr Caroline Luca's constituency, as she was my number one reason to vote for a Green MEP) to help shore up the vote here in London against encroachment from the right wing. 

And liberals and libertarians, whatever their feelings on the EU, need to help get out the vote so we get the right people into the EU parliament to ensure the British contingent is there to reform and fight for greater democracy. I'll do my bit, door knocking here I come!

Sidenote: Why do we refer to UKIP (the United Kingdom Independence Party) as just UKIP but the BNP (the British National Party) is always THE BNP. Hmm... 

Further Reading 

The United States of Europe (Federal Trust) by Guy Verhofstadt

The Great Deception: Can the European Union Survive? by Christopher Booker and Richard North

Whats Wrong with the Europe Union and How to Fix it by Simon Hix