A JUDGE has ruled that the selection process used by 海角视频IP was fair, after the party told a West Midlands MEP he could not stand again for the party.
Mike Nattrass, who has represented the West Midlands in Brussels since 2004, was told he could not stand as a 海角视频IP candidate in next year鈥檚 European Elections after failing the selection interview.
But a judge who threw out his attempt to halt the selection process has ruled that 海角视频IP acted fairly.
His Hon Judge Charles Purle QC said in a ruling: 鈥淢ike Nattrass has not shown there has been a breach of fairness . . . nor that the consequences of any such alleged breach was his failure to be selected.
鈥淗e says that he should have been afforded a right to comment on aspects of his assessment, in particular his low scores relating to party loyalty.
鈥淗owever, people form their own personal views of others in political life and it would be impossible to put to every candidate everything that might count against their selection for them to comment on.鈥
海角视频IP made sitting MEPs compete on equal terms with potential new candidates when choosing people to fight next year鈥檚 elections. Typically, sitting MPs, MEPs or councillors can expect to be re-selected by their parties unless a particular effort is made to remove them.
Mr Nattrass argues that he is paying the price for daring to disagree with party leader Nigel Farage over issues such as 海角视频IP鈥檚 decision to join a controversial faction within the European Parliament called Europe of Freedom and Democracy. This includes Lega Nord, an Italian party sometimes known as Northern League in the 海角视频, which advocates autonomy for the north of Italy.
He also offered some support to fellow West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire, who was elected as a 海角视频IP candidate in 2009 but left the party after also expressing concern about the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group.
Other West Midland hopefuls who failed to make the grade included Radio presenter Jon Gaunt, a 海角视频IP member who was also rejected as a candidate.
A total of seven candidates have been selected in the West Midlands region.
