Why do you want to meet with Roger Helmer MEP?
I could never understand why clients wanted to meet Roger Helmer MEP when he sat as a Conservative MEP.He seemed to hit the sweet spot for many industrialists. He saw the world through their eyes, he reflected their prejudices, he even believes climate change is a myth. They insisted meeting him. Many thought that what he said would even happen.
I understand the benefit of having one’s own biases confirmed. It gives you a warm feeling, and gives you the impression that there are others to see the world as you do. But, it is usually a recipe for self-deception and political failure.
Who to meet
I take a different approach. I think it’s more important to meet the politicians, and their advisors, who will make or break a key decision.
As there are 751 MEPs and as many, if not more, key advisers and relevant national politicians influencing your issue, the numbers see, foreboding.
You can instead chuck down the numbers involved. You really need to focus on:
- Relevant Committee co-ordinations
- Rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs
- Group co-ordinators for your issue
- National Party leader and whip
- National group co-ordinator (if not national party leader)
- Minister and shadow minister back home in 28 capitals
If relevant:
- National party committee co-ordinator
- Key MEPs co-ordinating group voting lists. This is important for the EPP.
- Bureau of party
Don’t forget – All politics is local
Governments and national parties send voting lists to their MEPS. National political loyalties are often stronger than loyalty to the european political group.
I have found this avenue particularly fruitful. Struan Stevenson MEP was about to instruct his fellow conservative MEPs to vote on a sensitive fisheries matter one way, until the then shadow fisheries minister, Richard Benyon MP, was altered to this move against party and national policy. A late night exchange of calls and emails corrected Struan Stevenson’s errant deviation from the national party position and brought the conservative group vote into line.
Beyond the committee
Too often people focus on the rapporteur and shadows. This goes on without realising that all too often rapporteurs are ignored and outvoted by their colleagues on the same committee, and sometimes a committee’s recommendation is ignored by the full Parliament.
But, the more technical an issue the more likely fellow MEPS will defer to their designated colleagues. They will step out of line if persuaded, but it happens a lot less you may think.
Downside
There is a downside to this approach. You will need to expand your political base from your friends and will need to speak to people in 28 countries. If you do it though you will stand a far better chance of getting the political result you want. You won’t of course have your prejudices confirmed by fellow travellers.