Well obviously the last election - and I can't say too much, but this is not the time to be standing young inexperienced candidates. There was a 'fresh intake' at the last national elections in all parties, but that doesn't mean 'fresh' will work again and especially in a different type of election and a different economic situation.

The problem, as always, is that the only reason a seasoned politician will stand for the EP is a) they are poison at home b) they are blocked in advancement at home 3) they lost their MP seat, 4) they are single.

In one way it is not the people who are uninterested in the EP, it is the parties first, who then influence the disinterest by putting up useless candidates for the job to be done.

There should be a lot more scope for virtual parliamenting and committeeing. Do we really need to fly all these people about every weekend and once in the week?

You can't be me, I'm taken