Philip Whitehead dies

[Filuwaúrdjan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/4573796.stm

[afleitch]

A loss of a politican, academic and thinker all in one is a sad loss.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

True. Quite an advocate for consumer rights as well. This came completely out of the blue; quite a shock actually. Very sad

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Well, what happens now?

Does his seat remain vacant until the next election?
Does whoever has the second postion on Labour's East Midlands list get the seat?
Does the Labour Party select a new MEP?
Does the PM (as head of government) appoint a new MEP?
Does the Queen (as head of state) appoint a new MEP?
Is there a by-election for a new MEP?
Is there a by-election for all six East Midlands MEP's?

All of those are logical possibilities, tho I consider some of them rather doubtful, especially the last as it seems rather unfair for someone to possibly lose their seat because someone else no longer holds theirs.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

It's either the second or third one. Until 1999 (when the electoral system was changed) there would have been a by-election though.

[Peter]

The relevant Law on this matter is Section 5 of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002

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I am unsure which Secretary of State is being referenced, though I assume it refers to Constitutional Affairs (this being the most logical). Regardless, I cannot find the regulations that the Act requires.

However, IIRC, it is 2(b) which is used to fill the vacant seat, and it will be whoever is second on Labour's East Midlands list who fills the seat.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

If it's 2(b) then Glenis Willmott (a GMB official) will fill the seat.