I am struck that the best way to know the real intentions of a politician is to see how they vote on the issue, rather how they said they will vote on the issue, or how they said they voted on the issue.
I’m struck how some politicians will tell you one thing, and do the other.
I had the pleasure and honour of working with two British Labour MEPs who would to be clear on how they would vote and not switch positions depending on who they were voting for. Even if it meant voting against the Party line.
Lines not to believe
Of late, I’ve learned wonderful give away lines that a variations of saying ‘no, I’m voting against you,’ without saying so, including:
- I fully understand your concerns …
- We will vote against …. but not
- We will object … but not
I file them in the same group of classic lines not to believe:
- The cheque is the post
- I’ll respect you in the morning
- We are the government, we are here to help.
How to see what to do
I recall Nigel Farage turning up to the Fisheries Committee to vote through a discards ban. He did not like to discuss that rare instance of turning up to the Committee to vote.
I was bemused to learn of those who have developed voting amnesia and blacked out on how loyally they followed the group line in the last EP and backed a lot of the Green Deal. It is easy to see how politicians voted in plenary or committee when a roll-call vote occurs. I’d prefer all votes to be recorded and made public.
You can usually find out how a Member State voted in a Comitology Committee and in the Council (here).
To paraphrase Matthew 7:16-20, you’ll know them by their deeds, and not their words. Check the providence of their words.