That this House notes the comments of the Right honourable Member for Greenwich and Woolwich, the Minister responsible for electoral law, that 'Any provisions on European Parliament elections laid down by the Council (including amendments to the 1976 Act) need to be ratified with an Act of Parliament in the UK'; further notes that the UK is, therefore, free to adopt any electoral system of its choosing for future elections to the European Parliament; believes that, by removing the vital link between each elected representative and their constituents and consequently encouraging voter apathy, proportional representation has not served the UK well; also notes with concern that proportional voting systems in other parts of Europe have allowed far-right parties to gain a foothold; and further believes that the UK's next elections to the European Parliament could, and should, be held under the First Past the Post electoral system.

That this House notes the comments of the Right honourable Member for Greenwich and Woolwich, the Minister responsible for electoral law, that 'Any provisions on European Parliament elections laid down by the Council (including amendments to the 1976 Act) need to be ratified with an Act of Parliament in the...

That this House congratulates the people of Sierra Leone, the political parties, their candidates in the presidential and parliamentary elections, the National Electoral Commission, democracy building organisations like the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and UN and British peacekeepers for all contributing so effectively to the free, fair and peaceful election campaign concluded on 14th May; looks forward to the new government of President Kabbah extending democracy to local government, rooting out corruption, promoting freedom, justice and prosperity, with continuing international support for the rebuilding and renewal of the Sierra Leone economy and civic society; and praises the opposition parties for committing themselves to the democratic process and looks forward to them playing an effective role in Parliament and in helping to strengthen civic society.

That this House congratulates the people of Sierra Leone, the political parties, their candidates in the presidential and parliamentary elections, the National Electoral Commission, democracy building organisations like the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and UN and British peacekeepers for all contributing so effectively to the free, fair and peaceful election...

That this House is greatly concerned at the high level of support for Jean-Marie Le Pen in the first round of the French presidential election; and calls upon all who support democracy in Europe to do everything possible to oppose the growth of neo-Fascism in their own countries.

That this House is greatly concerned at the high level of support for Jean-Marie Le Pen in the first round of the French presidential election; and calls upon all who support democracy in Europe to do everything possible to oppose the growth of neo-Fascism in their own countries.

That this House congratulates those leading figures of the majority of registered parties in Sierra Leone who responded to the invitation to all parties to participate in the roundtable on promoting democracy in Sierra Leone, organised by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy on 13th March, for signing unanimously a Memorandum of Understanding in which, among other things, they committed themselves to 'a democratic system where there will be mutual respect and trust, leading to electoral processes the outcomes of which will be accepted'; believes that this is a very encouraging and significant step towards free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections on 14th May; and calls on other parties contesting these elections to support this commitment to democratic processes; further calls on Her Majesty's Government, along with the Commonwealth, the African Union and the European Union to provide electoral observers to strengthen the confidence of all parties in the democratic process; looks forward to a new era in Sierra Leone politics where the ballot box and peaceful debate in Parliament and outside will replace permanently the horrors of internal military conflict; and urges Her Majesty's Government, along with its other international partners, to strengthen actions in support of democracy and economic recovery in Sierra Leone.

That this House congratulates those leading figures of the majority of registered parties in Sierra Leone who responded to the invitation to all parties to participate in the roundtable on promoting democracy in Sierra Leone, organised by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy on 13th March, for signing unanimously a Memorandum...

That this House applauds Bahrain on its decision to hold parliamentary elections in October 2002 and municipal elections in May 2002, in which all men and women will have the right to vote; congratulates Sheikh Hamad and his Government on their brave progress towards a modern democracy; and concurs with Amnesty International's description of the recent reforms in Bahrain as a 'truly historic period for human rights'.

That this House applauds Bahrain on its decision to hold parliamentary elections in October 2002 and municipal elections in May 2002, in which all men and women will have the right to vote; congratulates Sheikh Hamad and his Government on their brave progress towards a modern democracy; and concurs with...