The Impact of Europe on British Politics
Local Government & devolved governments
John Major & the Maastricht Treaty
Labour accepts Europe – the new Labour Governments 1997-2010
Originally not elected, and, even when directly elected from 1979, it was pretty much a talking shop. It has gradually increased its powers so that it has to agree the Budget and elects the President of the Commission.
Although legislation initiates in the Commission there is now a joint procedure for the Council and the Parliament to approve legislation and Parliament can also amend most legislation. It is also able to set up committees to scrutinise the Commission.
It has been increasingly ready to use its powers, for example, forcing the Commissioners to resign in 1999 because of allegations of corruption and drastically amending the Balkstein Directive in 2006, which had sought to integrate the single market in services by allowing firms to use employment regulations in one country for their operations in another country.
The Parliament consists of groupings of MPs from parties of similar ideological character. It is finely balanced between left and right. As elections are determined mainly by national issues there is unlikely to be a big swing to one side or the other.
