Scotland and London 'to lose MEP'

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Scotland could lose one member in the European Parliament under changes suggested by the Electoral Commission.

The commission was asked by the lord chancellor to consider how to cut the number of MEPs from 78 to 72 across the 12 electoral regions of the UK.

This was because seats have to be reallocated to accommodate new EU members Bulgaria and Romania.

London, North West England, the South West, West Midlands, and East Midlands would all lose one representative.

In a covering letter to lord chancellor Jack Straw, the commission says that the government might want to look again at the system it had been told to use for deciding how many MEPs each region or nation has.

That we are seeing a further degradation of representation in Europe is deeply unsatisfactory Alyn SmithScottish National Party MEP

It said that during public consultation about the changes, several issues were highlighted which it urged the government to consider.

"Many of those who responded argued that there were specific reasons why Scotland's situation is unique and that these reasons would justify the retention of its current allocation of seven MEPs.

"These reasons relate to the impact of devolution, geographic size, expected population growth and political culture," the commission's chief executive Peter Wardle wrote in the letter to Mr Straw.

The Scottish Executive said the size of the Scottish constituency and its devolved context meant Scottish MEPs "face unique demands".

Also, "lowering the number of MEPs serving Scotland to six would not allow a properly balanced representation of all the main parties in Scottish political life," the Scottish Executive told the commission.

Date queries

UK MEPs are elected in nine regions in England, as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the number of MEPs roughly based in proportion to the size of the electorate.

Responses concerning London's seat allocation questioned the use of December 2006 electorate figures as the basis for calculating the number of MEPs for elections which will not be held until June 2009.

The respondents argued that the data used should be taken at the "last possible date that is statutorily possible".

Large numbers of people from eastern Europe were "disproportionately settled" in London, "and by the time the elections are due in 2009 may make the electorate figures used in the calculations unreliable", it said.

But the commission said there was "merit" in using the 2006 figures as they were new and from a defined point in the British electoral cycle.

Minimum seats

Although there was nothing to prevent the Lord Chancellor from requesting a figure closer to the date, those participating and running the election were entitled to "a degree of certainty" at an advance date to allow for planning, it added.

Under law each region must have a minimum of three seats, but the commission said it "acknowledges that there may be a case for looking again at the statutory minimum".

Mr Wardle said: "Given the concerns expressed in response to our consultation, and particularly given the strength of feeling among Scottish stakeholders, we wish specifically to draw the government's attention to these criticisms, and to suggest that the government may wish to consider the current statutory requirements in the light of the comments we have received".

Scottish National Party MEP Alyn Smith said he was disappointed by the commission's recommendation, especially as the number of MEPs was cut in 2004.

"Scotland has separate institutions including our Parliament, our legal system and our education system that need strong European representation.

"That we are seeing a further degradation of representation in Europe is deeply unsatisfactory."

He added: "The Electoral Commission says it has expressed Scotland's concerns to the Secretary of State for Justice and I hope that this will lead to a review in time to prevent any cut, not only in 2009 but further into the future."