Clause 2 - Recommendations by Electoral Commission relating to changes in number ofUnited Kingdom MEPs
European Parliament (Representation) Bill
11:00 am
Ms Yvette Cooper (Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department; Pontefract and Castleford, Labour)
Yes, I have; it was the first thing that I said. Community law includes regulations and all kinds of things, but, as I also clearly said, the position on MEPs can be altered only through treaties or as required by treaties. It is not possible for the kind of things that the hon. Gentleman suggested to be done under the Bill.
As for the hon. Gentleman's wider concerns about whether people are suggesting that he believes that we should withdraw, I wonder what he thinks the consequences would be if other member states did not agree to his version of the renegotiation of the treaties. Somehow I doubt that they would be as enthusiastic about renegotiation as he thinks, and the logical consequence of that is that he would have to break Community law or withdraw altogether.