EU Parliament Elections THURSDAY 23RD MAY 2019
What are these elections for? u An important part of the European Union is the European Union. u The European Parliament discusses laws that affect issues that affect all of Europe such as fishing, the environment and workers rights u The are 751 MEPs (members of the European parliament) and they are all up for election this month. Britain has 73 MEPs u https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt8 4q2CBTPw
Why are we having these elections if we voted to leave the EU in 2016? u In June 2016 Britain did vote to leave the EU (52% - 48%) and Theresa May spent two years negotiating our withdrawal agreement. However, when it arrived it failed to get agreed by Parliament. u Many Conservatives believed it didn't go far enough. We were still linked to the EU and so it was not the Brexit that people voted for u Most other parties voted against the deal – because they believe it goes too far and they would like a closer relationship with the EU u We should have left on the 29th March – but this has now been extended to 31st October 2019. As we are still members of the EU – by law we have to hold these election
Except u Theresa May is currently in negotiations with Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party to see if they could come to a compromise agreement u Most people think this is unlikely u It is possible that the MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) that we elect will never actually take their seats if Brexit happens)
So what's the point? u Many people are looking at these elections as an unofficial second referendum on Brexit! u If the Brexit supporting parties do well – then this would indicate to MPs that Britain should leave the EU without a deal u If Remain supporting parties do well – then it would indicate to MPs that perhaps we need to think again
How is this election organised u General elections in the UK take the form of ‘First past the Post’ u The UK is split into lots of smaller areas called constituencies – each constituency has an election and the winning candidate wins and becomes an MP (whether they win by 1 vote of 10,000 votes)
There are lots of parties standing u There are several parties standing in this election u The Conservative Party u The Labour Party u The Liberal Democrats u Change UK u The Brexit Party u UKIP – the UK Independence Party
How does this election work? u The UK is split into several regions – we are in the North West which has 8 MEPs u Everyone votes for a party. After the results the percentage is worked out and seats are given to the different parties in proportion to their votes Party Vote Seats Labour 34% 3 u Every party has already selected a list of 8 UKIP 28% 3 candidates with number 1 being the most likely Conservative 20% 2 to be elected Greens 7% 0 u This was the result in the North West 5 years ago Lib Dems 6% 0
What happened in 2014? u In 2014 UKIP did well winning the most vote and winning 24 MEPs. Labour and the Conservatives were a few seats behind. u However – This was before Brexit so there is a All of the EU takes part in possibility that much could change these elections. u Will people come to realise their mistake and In the EU parliament British vote for the ‘Remain’ parties? Greens sit with the other u Or will they get angry the Brexit has been green MPs, labour sits in the delayed? ‘Socialist group’ etc
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