Woking Liberal DemocratsAhead of the second EU debate between Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage this evening, a timely new report has found that Liberal Democrats are the most influential British party in the European Parliament.
The analysis of MEPs' voting records from VoteWatch Europeover the past five years by think tank Policy Network, finds that Liberal Democrats are the "most successful coalition partner" in the European Parliament and "have played a central role in policy-making in both Westminster and Brussels."
As part of the European liberal ALDE group, Lib Dems have been "on the winning side" of key European Parliament votes 87% of the time, ahead of Labour, Tories and Ukip, "a remarkable performance for a group consisting of 11% of all MEPs".
The report continues:
"The central role of ALDE and the Lib Dems is well reflected by the prominence enjoyed by figures such as Sharon Bowles MEP, chair of arguably the most powerful and important committee in the EP."
And while anti-Europeans may try to paint Lib Dems as poodles of Brussels, the voting records show instead that the party has been the best at standing up for British interests in the EU:
"Most winning votes were clearly in line with British long-standing preferences, be it for a liberal market economy or the opening of trade negotiations."
Lib Dems in Europe also win plaudits for taking a strong environmental line, making them 'the UK's non-official green party" with a "striking ecological commitment."
Meanwhile, Labour is characterised as "ambivalent" and "unpredictable" due to their regular differences with the European socialist grouping. The Conservatives, by leaving Angela Merkel's mainstream centre-right EPP group "have gained in comfort what they have lost in influence," and "cut themselves off from natural allies."
Finally, for Ukip MEPs, "a striking feature is their absence and non-voting rates," the report noting that "Nigel Farage himself was not present when the EP voted on important issues such as the EU budget, reform of agriculture policy and the banking union." It sums up diplomatically that "their influence on EU decision-making is totally insignificant, an attitude that does not reinforce their governing credentials."
So there you have it. Ukip are against national interests, the Tories have cut themselves off and Labour are at best ambivalent. The Lib Dems are now officially both "king-makers in Westminster and winners in Brussels."
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