Set out below is the voting pattern in the European parliament after the recent report into CIA torture flights and their use of EU countries.
While there was cross-party support in Parliament as a whole, the UK members seem to have voted on strict party lines and a simple majority of UK members voted against. .
Votes in favour: 18 Labour, 11 LibDem, 2 Green, 2 SNP and 1 Plaid Cymru = 34
Votes against: 23 Conservatives, 8 UKIP, 1 dissident UKIP, 1 Democratic Unionist, 1 Ulster Unionist and 1 dissident Conservative = 35
Abstentions: 2 Conservatives
Not present for the vote: 1 Lab, 1 LibDem, 1 Con, 2 UKIP, 1 dissident UKIP and 1 SF
Irish members also appear to have voted on party lines - although a majority were in favour. The break-down was as follows:
For: 3 FG, 1 Lab, 1 SF, 2 Ind (Kathy Sinnott, associated in the EP with the Eurosceptic group, and Marian Harkin, associated in the EO with the ALDE (Liberal) group = 7
Against: 4 FF
Not present for the vote: 2 FG
The vote against by the four FF members (the Irish governing party) may indicate Irish government 'sour grapes' over criticisms in the report.
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
17/02/07
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