Analysis of UK MEPs votes for Amendment 170

[Matt Gluggles]

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I have looked at the UK MEPs who voted on amendment 170 of the TPD and broken them down along party lines.

MEPs who voted in favour of 170 were voting to allow e-cigs on the market as consumer products (non-medical) up to a max strength of 30mg/ml

MEPs who voted against 170 were voting either for a ban of e-cigs or for a medically approved e-cig only.


In total 59 of the MEPs from the UK voted.

44 voted in favour of 170 ("pro" - ecig)
15 voted against 170 ("anti" - ecig)

One notable point is that this means there is a 75/25 % ratio of UK MEPs in favour of a non-medical electronic cigarette option - this is a much larger majority compared to the results for EU MEPs as a whole.

MEPs (with two exceptions) voted along party lines.

All Lib Dem MEPs who voted were in favour of 170
All UKIP MEPs who voted were in favour of 170
Most Conservatives who voted were in favour of 170 - one voted against

All Labour MEPs who voted were against 170

The Ulster Unionist and the Democratic Unionist Parties were in favour of 170


List of Voting


UK MEPs who voted IN FAVOUR of 170 :

Lib Dem - Catherine Bearder
Lib Dem - Phil Bennion
Lib Dem - Sharon Bowles
Lib Dem - Chris Davies
Lib Dem - Andrew Duff
Lib Dem - Fiona Hall
Lib Dem - Sarah Ludford
Lib Dem - George Lyon
Lib Dem - Bill Newton-Dunn
Lib Dem - Rebecca Taylor
Lib Dem - Graham Watson

Cons - Marta Andreasen
Cons - Richard Ashworth
Cons - Sir Robert Atkins
Cons - Philip Bradbourn
Cons - Martin Callanan
Cons - James Chichester
Cons - Nirj Deva
Cons - James Elles
Cons - Vicky Ford
Cons - Jacqueline Foster
Cons - Ashley Fox
Cons - Julie Girling
Cons - Daniel Hannan
Cons - Malcolm Harbour
Cons - Jacqueline Kay Swinburne
Cons - Syed Kamal
Cons - Sajjad Karim
Cons - Timothy Kirkhope
Cons - Emma McClarkin
Cons - Anthea McIntyre
Cons - Charles Tannock
Cons - Marina Yannakoudakis

Ulster Unionist - James Nicholson
DUP - Diane Dodds

Ukip - Earl of Dartmouth
Ukip - John Agnew
Ukip - Gerard Batten
Ukip - John Bufton
Ukip - Paul Nuttall
Ukip - Roger Helmer
Ukip - Trevor Colman

Referendum - Nikki Sinclaire
SNP - Alyn Smith (allied with Greens in the Euro Parl)




UK MEPs who voted AGAINST 170

Cons - Struan Stevenson

Lab - Michael Cashman ( better known as actor who played ‘Colin’ from eastenders )
Lab - Mary Honeyball
Lab - Richard Howitt
Lab - David Martin
Lab - Linda McAvan
Lab - Claude Moraes
Lab - Brian Simpson
Lab - Catherine Stihler
Lab - Derek Vaughn
Lab - Glenis Willmott

Plaid Cymru - Jill Evans (allied with Greens in the Euro Parl)
SNP - Ian Hudghton (allied with Greens in the Euro Parl)
Green - Jean Lambert
Green - Keith Taylor



[Edited to correct Plaid Cymru and SNP + add missing Cons MEP.]

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[barrynorton]

Oct 9, 2013 13:51:23 GMT Matt Gluggles said:

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One notable point is that this means there is a 74/26 % ratio of UK MEPs in favour of a non-medical electronic cigarette option - this is a much larger majority compared to the results for EU MEPs as a whole.
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That's a really impressive outcome

[markm]

Very interesting,and useful going forward.

[vereybowring]

One thing to note is UKIP also voted yes to 71 which is a complete mess up and shows how good they are politically.
As it happens it made no real difference but could have been disastrous.

[davess]

As a long standing Labour voter I have just written to my local MP informing him that his party has just lost a voter - me.

[Sassy]

In my region (East Midlands) MEP's out of 5 - 3 were for 1 didn't vote and 1 against.

Unfortunately my local MP is Labour so I don't think I'll be getting much joy from him!

[dnglos]

Matt Gluggles Here's a spreadsheet I put together for another thread last night. I hope it helps.

docs.google.com/file/d/0Bx2uUXYa0IZGUi1NakhZcUt1T1U/edit?usp=sharing

The list shows how UK MEPs voted on amendments 71, 170/1 & 170/2. It's sorted by National Party, then by Constituency. Clicking on an MEP's name will take you to wikipedia. "Yes", "No" & "Abst" indicate whether they voted for, againt or abstaned - "n/a" means they didn't vote at all (presumably absent).

If anyone wants the spreadsheet to be modified in any way, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

[Matt Gluggles]

Oct 9, 2013 16:39:33 GMT dnglos said:

Matt Gluggles Here's a spreadsheet I put together for another thread last night. I hope it helps.

docs.google.com/file/d/0Bx2uUXYa0IZGUi1NakhZcUt1T1U/edit?usp=sharing

The list shows how UK MEPs voted on amendments 71, 170/1 & 170/2. It's sorted by National Party, then by Constituency. Clicking on an MEP's name will take you to wikipedia. "Yes", "No" & "Abst" indicate whether they voted for, againt or abstaned - "n/a" means they didn't vote at all (presumably absent).

If anyone wants the spreadsheet to be modified in any way, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks for this spreadsheet - really useful info.


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[dnglos]

Oct 9, 2013 17:38:09 GMT Matt Gluggles said:

Thanks for this spreadsheet - really useful info.


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Matt Gluggles You're welcome

[Bluefish]

On this issue conservative are the way to go

Dear Andrew

Thank you for your email regarding the potential EU ban on electronic cigarettes.

I am pleased to announce that as of yesterday the ban, which would have seen E-cigs taken off the shelves and classified as 'medicinal products', has now been thrown-out as a result of an amendment proposed by Conservative MEPs.

I believe this is a huge victory for common sense!

I and my Conservative colleagues in the European Parliament have fought strongly against the proposals since they were first announced earlier this year on the grounds of the health benefits provided by ‘vaping’ and the fact e-cigs have helped thousands of people give up smoking.

To read more, please click on the link below to the full story on my website:

www.sajjadkarim.eu/2013/10/09/victory-electronic-cigarettes-now-safe-thanks-to-conservative-amendment/


Thanks once again for contacting me.

Regards

Sajjad Karim

Sajjad Karim MEP
Conservative Member of the European Parliament for North West England

[Bluefish]

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Dear Mr Imrie

We have just finished our vote in the European Parliament and I am delighted to report we have successfully amended the EU's Tobacco Products Directive.

As a result, electronic cigarettes no longer face being taken off the shelves.

Many people have been in touch since the Directive from the EU Commission was first published. Today's amendment defeated proposals that would have classified e-cigs as medicinal products, meaning they would have been put through an exceptionally rigorous and costly authorisation process – far more laborious than for much more harmful traditional tobacco products.

Many 'vapers’ have told me that e-cigarettes have enabled them to move from cigarettes and on to products that produce no tar, carbon monoxide or smoke.

Ecigs will continue to be available for sale outside of pharmacies.

I have met many retailers and also visited manufacturers in the North West. Also, last month, I was pleased to receive the petition against the ban on e-cigs on behalf of the MEPs.

We are now in the hands of the national governments around the EU, who will be involved in the discussions as to how the Directive will be applied in each country. Clearly, we hope they will agree with MEPs.

I would like to thank everyone who has been in touch with me on this issue. The information provided to me has been invaluable.

With best wishes
Jacqueline Foster sig (2).jpg
Jacqueline Foster MEP
Conservative MEP for the North West of England
Conservative Spokesman on Transport & Tourism in the European Parliament

www.jacquelinefostermep.com

[barrynorton]

Mine was a little short (the MEPs who wrote back were more verbose):

Dear Dr Norton

Thank you for your helpful and informative email.

sincerely

Mike Freer MP
Conservative Member of Parliament for Finchley & Golders Green

[vaper22]

I'm a Labour voter but will certainly not vote for a Labour MEP now. Especially given who that current MEP is.