UKIP MEPS have among the worst EU voting records
ONE LAST ASKED PARLIAMENT QUESTION IN 2015
THE voting records of the region’s two UKIP MEPS are among the worst in the current European Parliament.
Hull-based Mike Hookem and Jane Collins, who lives in Newport, near Gilberdyke, were first elected in 2014.
Their terms of office as MEPS are due to end in April after the last session of the outgoing parliament as uncertainty over the UK’S exit from the EU continues.
Since 2014, Mr Hookem, who is UKIP’S deputy leader, has only taken part in 68.9 per cent of votes in the parliament. That ranks him 721st out of 751 MEPS.
Ms Collins has a 75.5 per cent participation record in voting, making her the 689th most active MEP in the rankings.
However, according to the parliament’s own website, she has not spoken in a parliamentary session for 19 months.
Her last verbal contribution was in November 2017 when she criticised the EU’S chief negotiator Michel Barnier for not inviting MEPS from the far-right Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group to a session of the EU’S Brexit steering committee.
On the same website, her most recent activity is recorded a day later in the form of a written explanation of a vote by UKIP MEPS against a report outlining proposed legislation covering an application for international protection in an EU member state by an person classed as stateless.
The last question she asked in a parliamentary session was back in December 2015 while her last written question submitted for a written answer was tabled in April 2016.
Their voting records are in stark contrast to other Yorkshire and Humber MEPS.
Labour’s Richard Corbett has taken part in 91.4 per cent of votes, while his colleague Linda Mcavan has an 83.8 per cent voting record.
Conservative MEP John Procter has voted in 89.1 per cent of the available sessions.
Fellow Conservative MEP Amjad Bashir joined the Tories after being elected as a UKIP candidate in 2014. He has taken part in 78.4 per cent of all votes.
All MEPS earn just over £87,123 a year.