Now Hold Them To Account!

People of Medway have voted strongly for UKIP in the local elections. By returning 41.7% of cast votes in Medway for this party, voters have contributed strongly towards UKIP securing 4 MEPs in the South East Region. I hope that on behalf of these voters, the actions, inactions and statements of these representatives will be reported by your paper so that they can be held accountable for their representation or otherwise.

UKIP are now the majority representative party for the South East in the European parliament and deserve to have their views, voting records and statements scrutinised.

Whilst many think that MEPs do not matter greatly, if you believe the propaganda of this party, 70% of UK legislation originates in Brussels; surely that means that these politicians now wield an enormous influence over UK legislation.

Alternatively, you may believe as I do, that this was scare-mongering to prop up their anti-establishment message and realise that a more accurate amount of legislation originating there is approximately 7%. Whatever the true figure, legislation at the EU level does have an impact on this country. Therefore the actions, inactions, views and statements of these representatives deserve to be reported and scrutinized so that people can judge politicians and parties. Majority representation should be properly scrutinized at all levels of government in my view.

I believe that UKIP will not represent this region well. Medway receives numerous grants from the EU as a development zone. UKIP's isolationist and nationalist views will do nothing to ensure the regeneration of Medway continues.

Whilst I am pleased that Catherine Bearder has held her seat, I am bitterly disappointed that Antony Hook will not be joining her in Parliament.

I believe that the hardest working MEPs have been treated very badly by the people of Medway and sincerely hope this is a protest vote that is not repeated in next year's general and local elections in Medway.