Giles Chichester is new leader of Tory MEPs

Giles Chichester MEP is the new leader of the Tory MEPs.

By one vote he ousted Timothy Kirkhope.  Mr Kirkhope had hoped that his part in securing the defection of Sajjad Karim would save his embattled leadership but he lost today's vote of the Tory MEPs by just one vote.  Mr Karim is thought to have voted for Mr Kirkhope.  Advisers to David Cameron had wanted to delay Mr Karim's defection until closer to the election of the new LibDem leader but were over-ruled.

Philip Bushill-Matthews will be Deputy Leader (replacing Robert Atkins) of the delegation and Syed Kamall will be Treasurer.

Dan Hannan abstained in the vote after neither Chichester nor Kirkhope would commit to making a public statement in favour of David Cameron's commitment to leaving the EPP - once either were elected.  The minority Eurosceptic MEPs had grown increasingly frustrated at what they have seen as foot-dragging by Mr Kirkhope on EPP exit plans and the building of a new reform movement within the European Parliament.  It is unlikely that that situation will change much with Giles Chichester as the new Chairman of the Delegation.  Mr Chichester, as a fresh leader, has the opportunity of rebuilding relations within the unhappy delegation, however.  Attitudes to Mr Kirkhope had become poisonous.  In a significant nod towards the Eurosceptic MEPs, Mr Chichester promised to replace Richard Ashworth with Den Dover as delegation whip.

Comments

[We won't ever leave the EPP]

Editor: why don't you write to Mr Chichester and ask him to state his position on the EPP?

[Richard Weatherill]

Good suggestion. Could ask PB-M (as Deputy Leader) the same question. As a constituent, I'd be very interested to see his reply.

[Troubador]

Again, reshuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic. Having been Chairman of a safe seat in the South East region, it never ceased to amaze me how utterly hopeless most MEPs and prospective candidates were in terms of calibre. Worse still, they turned up at the hustings, professed euroscepticism (with a couple of honourable exceptions in both directions) and then buggered off back to Brussels and went native for another 5 years.

Again, Dan Hannan acts out of principle. Can we just please clone him?

[Sally Roberts]

Oh yawn...yawn...yawn.... same old same old noises off!! I wonder if Mr Chichester knows what he's let himself in for?

[Dan Hamilton]

Many congratulations to Syed Kamall on his election as Treasurer. A well deserved victory for one of Britain's hardest working and most intelligent MEPs.

[Gubbins]

Kirkhopeless replaced by the another hopeless europhile...

Hannan should have put himself forward for leader, then we could see the geniune eurosceptic/europhile split in the MEP delegation

[HF]

Any MEP that will not commit to a public statement to leaving the EPP should not be re-selected.

Who is in charge of the MEP selection process?

[Christina Speight]

Chichester!!! - Ye Gods. Another eu-fanatic. just when I thought it was safe to vote Conservative again.

[Mr Angry]

Well at least we do know that the excellent Syed Kamall won't be going native and he is most assuredly a sensible Eurosceptic and, as Treasurer, is a part of the MEP leadership team.

Of course now we also know why Sajjad Karim's defection wasn't timed as well as it might have been for the good of the Conservative party; Kirkhope once again put his own interests before those of both his party and his country to gain that 1 extra vote for his leadership campaign. Disgraceful of him and something that ought to be given great weight when deciding the selections/list allocations for the next Euro elections.

[Mr Angry]

P.S. So what exactly do we have to do to ensure that our MEP delegation is actually representative of the Eurosceptic views of both the party and the wider public????

[Editor]

Not much Mr Angry because the Party Board has removed our right to 'de-rank' sitting MEPs.

[Editor]

As to 'We will never leave the EPP' (1530), I will ask Giles Chichester for an on-the-record statement.

[Tim Roll-Pickering]

Why do only MEPs get to elect the leader? MPs don't elect the leader in the Commons - the whole party does.

Perhaps it's time this bit of the party was modernised.

[Traditional Tory]

Chichester!!! - Ye Gods. Another eu-fanatic. just when I thought it was safe to vote Conservative again.

You were a bit overoptimistic there, Christina. Still, if Eurofanatic are busy scratching each other's eyes out that can't be a bad thing.

Not much Mr Angry because the Party Board has removed our right to 'de-rank' sitting MEPs.

Isn't that alone reason enough to 'withdraw goodwill' from this ghastly, anti-democratic, party?

[shrug]

Dan Hannan acts out of principle? Please!

'The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises remain neutral' (Dante) is more like it!

For how long will we allow one issue remain a caveat as to why certain of our elected (and handsomely rewarded) politicians remain idle on all other areas where they should be working to achieve gains for the British people?!

"Do somethings" are not moved by the criticism of "do nothings".

[Prentiz]

Chichester, as far as the Northern part of his region is concerned is a complete non-entity. We've not even been graced with the usual plethora of visits in the run-up to selection, as, with Jackson not standing, and the infinitely higher quality Neil Parish off to Westminster, Chichester automatically tops the list, despite his reported refusal to back party policy.

It is absolutely inexplicable of the party to back up these trouble-makers and ne'er do wells - the party should give ordinary members a say, whilst we are strong enough to stand the upheaval. To do anything else stores trouble for the future...

[LR]

Den Who? Seriously, Den Dover as Chief Whip? Can anyone actually confirm this person exists - with elections forthcoming Chichester has made his first big mistake appointing an MEP who apparently doesn't even have a manned office in Brussels to co-ordinate Conservative votes.

As for Deputy Leader, at least you knew exactly where you stood with Robert Atkins, PBM is not trusted by the right or the left and already goes by the nickname of Philip Bullshit Matthews..

Good Luck MEPs!!

[Dale]

How did any of them get to brussels? They don't represent the views of the grassroots , the leadership or the public. Its time to replace them, they are all a complete joke.

[ltory]

Well done Giles! He really deserves this after he was 'done over' by the delegation when he lost his chairmanship of the Industry Delegation.

Kirkhope comanded no respect or power among the delegation and made a series of errors, such as letting Sajjid Karim in.

How funny it has now backfired. No sympathy I am afraid.

[Sally Roberts]

Quit agree, LR - they're going to need it!

[Elaib]

Den is a good, and principled chap. Sayed will do a good job as Treasurer, and Giles was when first elected the only Eurosceptic in the 1994 intake. He has, it is true, gone native to an extent, but he will be a vast improvement on Kirkhope.

[Justin hinchcliffe]

I, too, would like to pay tribute to Timothy Kirkhope's leadership of the delegation. I just hope that Giles will continue to promote the benefits, of which there are many, of our membership of the EPP.

The majority of Conservative members and supporters are committed to staying in the European Union and want us to fight our corner by having our voice heard as members of the largest political centre-right grouping, i.e. the EPP!

[Simon Chapman]

"The majority of Conservative members and supporters are committed to staying in the European Union and want us to fight our corner by having our voice heard as members of the largest political centre-right grouping, i.e. the EPP!"

Justin, I am a little suprised at you. I would think that the majority of party members would want to support David Cameron and his commitment to take us out of the EPP, and that you would want to support him too?

[Justin hinchcliffe]

Generally, I think I'm pretty loyal. But, on this issue, I think the leadership is wrong. I hope they are re-considering their proposal.

[Justin hinchcliffe]

Those readers who are pro-European and Conservative, can join the Conservative Group for Europe. http://www.cge.org.uk/

[Sean Fear]

"The majority of Conservative members and supporters are committed to staying in the European Union and want us to fight our corner by having our voice heard as members of the largest political centre-right grouping, i.e. the EPP!"

I can't say I've ever encountered this particular majority.

[Paul Oakley]

Sorry to be a pedant Justin, but there's a typo in your post. You should obviously have said "minority" rather than "majority"

[Gloy Plopwell]

Fabulous. Apsolutely fabulous stupendous news. Well done Giles!!!!!

[Traditional Tory]

Those readers who are pro-European and Conservative, can join the Conservative Group for Europe.

Can I join, Justin?

[Sensible Tory]

Congratulations to Giles Chichester.

As he knows there are no sane MEPs from the centre right (except perhaps Fianna Fail) who are not already in the EPP-ED Group, so there is no hope of forming any new group after 2009.

The whole debate about a "superstate" is very last century, so why don't we just get on and work with Europe's real power brokers, Sarko and Merkel. And in any case the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament has no role in constitutional matters; that's for national governments and national parliaments.

[Sensible Tory]

Congratulations to Giles Chichester.

As he knows there are no sane MEPs from the centre right (except perhaps Fianna Fail) who are not already in the EPP-ED Group, so there is no hope of forming any new group after 2009.

The whole debate about a "superstate" is very last century, so why don't we just get on and work with Europe's real power brokers, Sarko and Merkel. And in any case the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament has no role in constitutional matters; that's for national governments and national parliaments.

[LR]

Sarko is a protectionist nut-bag!

[Gloy Plopwell]

Traditional tory. Always so negative! This is fabulous stupendous news to shout from the rooftops!!!

[Rob Largan]

LR, Den Dover works tirelessly in helping out campaigning in target seats all over the North West and has been available to help out as a speaker at short notice on several occasions in Greater Manchester. He is an excellent MEP.

[DavisFan]

Why did Helmer not stand?

I cannot imagine anyone could vote against such obvious sanity or that beautiful, luxuriant moustache

[Euro Making a Mistake]

Is it wise to have Buls**t-Matthews as the Deputy Leader?

[TFA Tory]

Chichester is not the most Europhile of the Tory MEPs. He is regarded as a centrist (honestly!) which is why he won with the support of most of the Eurosceptics.

Our MEPs will only leave the EPP if most are dragged away kicking and screaming by David Cameron and William Hague. In the meantime the EUphile MEPs are continually striving to undermine and thwart any efforts to recruit members for a new group.

Cameron needs to appoint Syed Kamall, reporting directly and regularly to Hague, to take responsibility for recruitment.

[Dale]

As I have said before, I am sure Justin is living on another planet.

Leaving aside the costs/benefits of eu membership and the costs/benefits of us being in the EPP, The fact of the matter is ,rightly or wrongly, most conservatives do not support either. Most conservatives would like to see us leave the epp and renegotaitate a few powers back from brussels and it relly is quite worrying that Justin does not see this.

BTW Mr Editor, Could we possibly have a survey on the issue of the EPP and EU to see what tory grassroots really think?

[Troubador]

Justin has the labelling slightly wrong. For anyone who wants to support his perspectove, the organisation you want is called the LibDems. For the rest of us who are Eurosceptic, we can just sit and eye UKIP longingly.

[strapworld]

Giles Chichester...yes a man of no action. never seen anywhere in his vast constituency. A total nonentity living on his father's name.

If EU elections were first past the post he would not stand an earthly.

WHY cannot the Tories put a five year maximum service as an MEP?
WHY should they have, in effect, a job for life?
Wouldn't it be far more democratic if they changed the personnel each election. Then something may get changed in the EU!

[Christina Speight]

I have only met one single Tory in party gatherings or elsewhere who has anything but contempt for the EU and all its undemocratic procedures and mindset. That one was Giles Chichester who lived down the road from me.

He's a disaster as are most of the eu-fanatical Tory MEPs.

Much as I hate Brown I will not vote for any party that keeps us in the federalist EPP-ED

Who are all these people above who love our enemy? Are they all Metro-Tories. Get out of London, if you are and meet the majority of the party

[Simon R]

What an unfortunate looking man.

[Jon]

Philip Bushill-Matthews is most definately against the move out of the EPP-ED group. I have heard him say that in private on a number of occasions, he also thinks there is a gulf between Conservative HQ and Brussels colleagues. He is no doubt right that the Conservatives should stay put. The prospects of getting the required amount of MEPs from different EU states doesn't look good. I don't think the Conservative party should settle for second rate, and rather hideous parties such as Law and Justice in Poland to form coalitions. They have much more power belonging to the biggest grouping in the European Parliament.

[Dale]

"They have much more power belonging to the biggest grouping in the European Parliament."

I think you are vastly over estimating the power that the european parliament itself has. It is little more than a rubber stamping institution.

Besides, Cameron pledged to leaeve the epp, we elected him, we want out, MEPs that weren't even elected on their own merit have no right to question cchq.

[Jon]

The European Parliament is a fairly powerful institution and is gaining power each time a treaty settlement is reached. The Libson Treaty will increase its powers further. Also why is it that so many interest groups spend millions of euros lobbying the European Parliament to affect legislation going through it if it is just a "rubber stamping institution"? There is a difference between you wanting it to be less of a force and the actual reality of the situation.

Everything Cameron says is golden? I don't think so. We have a right to question our leaders on whichever issues we disagree. And on this I fundamentally disagree. There are better ways of getting what we want on the EU than pulling ourselves out of the EPP-ED.

[james]

Congratulations to Mr Chichester.

Not sure how he will succeed in making our group relevant or interesting to the electorate but, if he tries, good luck to him

[Dale]

An MEP cannot even introduce legislation into the european parliament, the european parliament is WEAK, it is POWERLESSS, the comission and the council of ministers are running the show. The commission introduce a bill, the council of ministers approve a bill and the MEPs 'scrutinise' the bill. The bill becomes law, whether people want it or not, whether the european parliament wants it or not. The european parliament is a joke and everyone knows it.

David Cameron's only pledge during the leadership election was to withdraw the tory meps from the racist, homphobic, christian democratic, protectionist, illiberal epp.

He was elected on a landslide! Its what we want, It needs to happen.

YOU may not want us to leave, but the leadership does as do the grassroots, you have lost the argument, get over it.

[Christina Speight]

A promise is a promise and to date it has not been honoured. Cameron got his landslide based on that promise. All the polls show that Tory voters are nearly 50% in favour of leaving the EU altogether.

There is a vast majority for achieving an associate status. Those MEPs who get in the way should not be reselected.

Roger Helmer shows clearly that you do not have to be in a federalist grouping to be effective.
Chichester and Kirkhope before him are opening up the very fundamental split in the party which we hoped was behind us. They like being big fish in a small pond and to hell with their electors back home.

[Jon]

"The commission introduce a bill, the council of ministers approve a bill and the MEPs 'scrutinise' the bill. The bill becomes law, whether people want it or not, whether the european parliament wants it or not."

I think you need a lesson in EU policy-making. MEPs under co-decison have the same power as the Council of Ministers to approve or dismiss legislation. While the system is far from perfect, the reforms will stregthen the ONLY democratic institution within the EU.

"racist, homphobic, christian democratic, protectionist, illiberal epp"

What and join with the friendly and warm, totally un-homophobic Poles and Estonians? At the moment its only the Czechs who have signed up after the Bulgarians did a U-turn and pulled out, then won no seats in their European elections this year. Where are we going to find 3 more ideologically aligned political parties from different Member States to meet the rules of forming a new political group?

50% to leave the EU all together? I'd like to see the Conservatives win with a promise like that!

[Elaib]

"50% to leave the EU all together? I'd like to see the Conservatives win with a promise like that"

That I think is the point. Many would like to see the Tories win with a promise like that.

[William Humbold III]

In the meantime, help the rest of the EU, and vote YES to Free Europe Constitution at www.FreeEurope.info!

[Richard Balfe]

Why not have a referendum on whether we stay in the EU or not. That should settle the matter one way or another for 25 years or so.

[orlando]

Congratulations to Giles and the Group.
Having worked with him during my two period as PPC in North Devon, he came across as warm, hard-working, sensible, and broadly Euro-sceptic - he is also popular in the South-West, both for his diligence and his position as the latest product of the familiar Chichester factory line - a good choice, and nice to have a thorough Devonian in the Tory front-line

[George Hinton]

Why do we bother giving these people the breath of publicity.
With the notable exception of Dan Hannan they have their snouts in the trough and have been seduced by the gravy train and the fawning.
A dictat must be given by the membership to sort out Europe once and for all.

[Roger Helmer MEP]

As usual, Justin Hinchcliffe is just plain wrong. ("The majority of Conservative members and supporters are committed to staying in the European Union"). A recent poll showed that 52% of those describing themselves as Conservative supporters would vote OUT in an In/Out referendum, against thirty-something percent who would vote IN.

[Richard Weatherill]

I think I'll have to move to the East Midlands in time to register for the next European elections. At least I'll then have some genuinely Conservative MEP candidates to vote for!

[Dale]

"What and join with the friendly and warm, totally un-homophobic Poles and Estonians? At the moment its only the Czechs who have signed up after the Bulgarians did a U-turn and pulled out, then won no seats in their European elections this year. Where are we going to find 3 more ideologically aligned political parties from different Member States to meet the rules of forming a new political group?"

Your going to have to do better than that.

[Bill Brinsmead]

George Hinton | November 29, 2007 at 10:58 “with … the exception of Dan Hannan they have their snouts in the trough ..”

Dan was elected as an MEP and I assume he takes the associated salary and whatever expenses he is entitled to. QED: his snout is also in the trough. The difference is that GC also takes the shilling but he tries to make the institution work.

Why is Dan an MEP?

[Christina Speight]

Posted by: Richard Balfe @1025 "Why not have a referendum on whether we stay in the EU or not. That should settle the matter one way or another for 25 years or so."

Because - as I pointed out in my posting last night @2325 - only nearly 50%-ish of Tory voters want to leave altogether. What 80% of them want - and THAT's 80% pf the population - is a new relationship / associate status with thed EU.

A referendum such as you suggest would leave us hog-tied for ever.

And - Bill Brinsmead at 1313 -GC is an out-and-out federalist and should never have been selected and if members get a vote he'll be deselected pronto. All he wants is Britain as a province of the EU.

[Martin Smith]

To settle a few misconceptions here, Chichester, like the great majority of Tory MEPs, is an "In Europe not run by Europe" man. That is party policy as created by Hague and still valid today.

I think people need to understand what the European Parliament does if they are judging effectiveness or suitability of a leader.

The identity of the leader of the MEPs will not determine Tory policy on Europe, any more than UK government policy towards Europe is decided by which party wins the European elections. Those things are decided back home.

The European Parliament has the power, along with the Council of Ministers, to block or amend legislation arising from the European Commission on certain issues defined as "co-decision" issues, and the power to write reports that have a small influence over policy direction and interpretation.

As someone who has worked for a business lobby group in Brussels I would much rather work with someone who knows what is going in his committee and can work constructively with other MEPs to make amendments and get things voted in or out, than one who can grandstand about the EU in the papers. Take note: it doesn't have to a Europhile. It just needs to be someone who's doing the representative job to which they were elected. Try talking to UKIP and they don't even understand the issues let alone know when the votes are. It does though need to be someone generally sceptical about introducing new regulations all the time: all Tory MEPs fit that bill.

I can't really welcome or unwelcome (if that's a word) the result but I have met Giles Chichester a couple of times and he is basically sceptical about the content of most of what Brussels produces and says, and I have faith that he will keep Tory MEPs voting against any more red tape and in favour of completing the internal market. That's about as much as an MEP can do.

Meanwhile if you want to leave the EU, it's David Cameron you should be writing to.

[realist]

Gosh, there's been some inaccuracies in this thread. Thank goodness Jon and Martin Smith actually have some knowledge of what they're talking about.
There is obviously a great lack of knowledge about both the powers of the EP and the groupings. It's complicated stuff, so perhaps a guide on here would be a good idea.
To call the EP a "rubber stamp" is crazy - if anything the UK CS increasingly rubberstamps European legislation - for example on environmental standards - which has been decided under co-decision.
The benefits of being in a large grouping are that roles like coordinator and chairmanship of committees are open to you - meaning far more sway over the voting, allocation of reports and so on. Being in a large group gives the UK Conservatives power to really stand up for their constituents. Perhaps that's deep down the Conservative MEPs realise this - hence their election of centrist leaders. For those questioning whether DH would have been elected, had he chosen to stand, the more popular Chris Heaton-Harris wasn't last time, so it seems unlikely.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Please tell us 'realist' how in practice it gives us 'power to stand up for their constituents'. I have asked this question many times on this blog and have never been given a satifactory answer or indeed any answer at all. Please use as many examples as you can think of , I promise to read them all.

[realist]

the role, as I see it, is to stand up for their constituents in terms of ensuring that legislation passed in the European parliament is advantageous to the UK. This they do by voting, and indeed those UK Cons who are coordinators, setting voting lists for the entire EPP grouping, a vast power.
They can also question the Commission and Council, and can take up constituent's cases over lapsed standards abroad. I have previously seen an MEP garner sanctions against a member state and compensation for a constituent whose husband had been working abroad and was killed due to lack of health and safety standards.
The regional distribution of seats means that invariably MEPs aren't seen around as much as MPs - but it's a different job in my mind, and they actually have a far greater degree of power than a backbench MP.

[Peter]

I think the biggist problem with the current selection process is that Central office is not answerring e-mails from people who like myself would like to stand.
Any chance Tim of giving the correct procedures for people who want to apply?