CHALLENGE TO UKIP OVER EU PARLIAMENT

9.12.02am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Jul 2004

The European Parliament is more effective, more efficient and more democratic than the House of Commons, claim Liberal Democrats in a pamphlet published this week.

In a direct challenge to members of the UK Independence Party, arriving for their first meeting in Strasbourg, Britain's 12 Liberal Democrat MEPs argue that those who criticise the Parliament blindly either have no understanding of the Westminster reality or have put prejudice before objectivity.

They claim that the European Parliament is genuinely independent, more closely reflects the wishes of voters, and allows MEPs to behave as 'grown up' politicians who secure major amendments in new laws rather than acting as lobby fodder for party whips.

The pamphlet, 'Best Practice: lessons from the European Parliament', will be submitted as evidence to the House of Commons Modernisation Committee.

West Midlands Euro-MP, and a former Westminster MP, Liz Lynne accepts that changes are needed in the working of the European Parliament.

"We want more improvements but we're reformers, not wreckers," she explained.

"It needs to be said more often that this new Parliament is doing a remarkably good job. It works in an extraordinary multinational environment, representing 470m people from 25 nations and with 19 official languages, and it is growing in authority and influence.

"The House of Commons by comparison has the relatively simple task of representing the people of one nation, speaking just one language, yet does it astonishingly badly. It's fundamental problem is that it always dances to the government's tune. There is no separation of powers between the executive and legislative bodies in the British system."

Liz Lynne points to the scrutiny of newly nominated European Commissioners, who before their appointment is confirmed by MEPs may have to answer up to fifty written pages of questions about their subject and face a 3-hour public grilling. She asks why Britain's legislators fail to subject new government ministers to any examination at all.

Despite alleged lax rules over expense payments, the Liberal Democrat MEP claims that in many instances the rules are tighter for MEPs than at Westminster, although further reform is necessary.

She also threw down a challenge to the UK Independence Party MEPs to become engaged with the process not just to snipe from the sidelines .

"They are not going to be representing the people of this country if they don't take part in committee work and that means getting involved in amending, shaping and even blocking EU legislation.

"They shouldn't expect to be able to just pick up their wages and expenses without doing any work. That is a waste of taxpayers money."