Will the European election affect North business community?

Jun 1 2009 by Alastiar Gilmour, The Journal

Our passion for politics will be severely tested this week at the elections for the European Parliament. Alastair Gilmour asks if results in Brussels mean anything to the region’s business community

JUST when the integrity of our politicians has reached the bottom of the trough, along comes another test of constitutional judgement.

We’ve been battered senseless by whirlwinds of political sleaze, financial mismanagement with underhand shenanigans that beggar belief, so Thursday’s European Parliament elections could appear as a credibility gap too far. It seems we just don’t care. Or do we?

We shouldn’t really be surprised that our interest in what Europe does is low, but what effect on our social status and business life will the elections have? Does it matter if we vote? Does it matter who we vote for? How can sending three public servants from the region to Brussels and Strasbourg possibly have any impact on our day-to-day existence? Anyway, isn’t Brussels and all that goes on there remote and irrelevant to Blyth and Belford?

When contacted for comment, one prominent business woman told us – after considerable thought – she didn’t know enough on the subject and as she didn’t want to appear foolish she felt she couldn’t help much. But that’s precisely the point; if notable business people are working in a void of unawareness how can they understand that 75% of the laws we have to abide by are made in the European Parliament?

At some time or other, important details will filter down to individuals and companies in the North East; by then, if there’s a point we have missed, it’ll be too late to squeal and squawk that "somebody" should have done "something".

Another point worth considering is that the average MEP now probably enjoys more sway than many a backbench MP in the UK.

Gordon Brown has been told to expect a tough time at the polling station with a heavy defeat on Thursday even threatening his job. Added to Labour’s woes is the threat of the United Kingdom Independent Party (Ukip) and the British National Party (BNP) targeting voters – both have to some degree taken votes from dissatisfied Labour supporters. In Hartlepool in the 2004 European elections, Ukip was the second-placed party with 94,000 votes. The BNP won 50,000 votes then and there are fears that at least one MEP position will be secured in the North for an extremist group.

If informed predictions are correct, voters will spurn the ballot box in record numbers or vote for extremist organisations such as the BNP and the Christian Party Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship. Some may gain seats at the expense of mainstream parties as voters put their crosses where their mouths are in the first opportunity to do so since financial meltdown, rising unemployment, manufacturing collapse and political debauchery each took their place in the news headlines.

Sara Hagemann from the European Policy Centre in Brussels says: "You’ll see a lot of protest voters in Europe and a lot of apathy towards political elites. The low turnout means that those who do vote have very strong opinions. That will bring in the more extremist politicians."

It’s estimated the election will attract the lowest turnout for the European Parliament since voting was introduced 30 years ago. A recent survey predicts a pan-European turnout of 34% which is 10 points down on 2004 participation. It’s believed UK interest is even lower, with some experts expecting a 21% turnout. One of those definitely using his vote is Alistair Arkley, chairman of Billingham-based pubs group New Century Enterprises and one of the North East’s most highly-respected and high-profile business leaders.

He says: "The first thing to make clear is that, yes, I do care about the European elections and I will be voting.

"Why? I suppose the key reasons are that I firmly believe that democracy only works if people are prepared to participate and that what happens in Europe is playing an ever-increasingly important role in every aspect of our lives.