European Affairs

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 5:51 pm on 16 June 2009.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Ian Davidson Ian Davidson Labour, Glasgow South West 5:51, 16 June 2009

We are both Scottish colleagues. There are perhaps two things that we can take out of the European elections. One is the myth that proportional representation results in a greater connection with the electorate and a bigger turnout, which clearly does not apply. Secondly, my hon. Friend is downplaying the message that the electorate sent us. We cannot disregard the fact that UKIP polled astonishingly well—far better than anybody would have imagined before the elections—which surely cannot be unconnected with the hostility towards the European Union.