The South West Constituency includes Gibraltar, so any candidate for the South West represents a wide range of views across the South West, but are also expected to represent Gibraltar.

The population of Gibraltar really does not share any commonality with the South West region, and I would guess that Gibraltar as a result feel rather under represented.

I can understand why Gibraltar was tagged onto the end of the South West region, but I do not believe this is what is best for Gibraltar. The main problem seems to be that the South West is represented by 1 MEP every 80,000 (approx) of population, and that Gibraltar has a population of about 30,000 which would seem to be too low to justify its own MEP.

The maths argument is clear, but Parliaments are designed to give people real democratic representation and I feel that in the case of Gibraltar, this is not happening.

I will, once elected, fight for Gibraltar’s right to have real representation in the European Parliament, it just isn’t good enough to add Gibraltar onto the end of the South West region, Gibraltar and Gibraltarian’s deserve more; I will fight for Gibraltar’s right to elect its own MEP.

I am not saying that we should disown Gibraltar, far from it, what I am saying is that Gibraltarians must have the a representative who can concentrate on their issues.

Politics should be about fairness and representation, how can we expect people to engage with the political process if they do not feel represented; the allocation of resources shouldn’t just be a mathematical formula, it should instead take into account communities and commonality between areas. What the political system needs is a good dose of common sense.

As an Independent Candidate in the Euro Elections I need your support, please text ROGWHI01 to  86837 and register a vote for Gibraltar.