Remembering ACTA

ACTA is now dead in Europe. But let’s not forget the people involved in the most remarkable attempt to pass the most evil legislation in Europe that I have ever had the displeasure to follow. Party politics is full of venal characters, but ACTA certainly sorted the wheat from the chaff.

First, here are my local MEPs who voted against ACTA, along with the vast majority of the assembly. Well done to them. I have thanked them for performing their duty of protecting us from rampant greed and corporate interest.

Sarah Ludford
Mary Honeyball
Jean Lambert

And here are the UK’s 22 spineless cowards. These people ABSTAINED on an issue so transparently undemocratic that it would have made Mussolini proud.

Richard ASHWORTH
Philip BRADBOURN
Martin CALLANAN
David CAMPBELL BANNERMAN
Giles CHICHESTER
Nirj DEVA
James ELLES
Vicky FORD
Jacqueline FOSTER
Ashley FOX
Julie GIRLING
Malcolm HARBOUR
Sajjad KARIM
Timothy KIRKHOPE
Emma McCLARKIN
Anthea McINTYRE
James NICHOLSON
Struan STEVENSON
Kay SWINBURNE
Charles TANNOCK
Geoffrey VAN ORDEN
Marina YANNAKOUDAKIS

You would think they would have at least some opinion on one of the most contentious issues ever to go before the European Parliament. But no. Lucky for us then that the motion received the largest defeat in the history of the EU.

Only one UK MEP voted FOR ACTA. Step forward Mr Bill NEWTON DUNN. A Liberal Democrat, and a man who in my opinion has revealed himself entitled to no place in the machinery of government. If you voted for ACTA, that says only one thing to me: you are interested in lining your own pockets through the grace and favour of corporate interests. You are not a politician at all.