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European Parliament election, 2004 (Gibraltar)
Encyclopedia
Gibraltar
's first participation in the elections to the European Parliament
were held on 10 June 2004 as part of Europe-wide elections
. Although part of the European Union, Gibraltar had never before voted in European Parliamentary elections, in part due to its small electorate of just over 20,000 which would cause Gibraltar to be over-represented by about 30 times if even a single seat were to be assigned.
This disenfranchisement applied by the United Kingdom was successfully challenged before the European Court of Human Rights
in 1999. As a result, from 2004 Gibraltar was included by the United Kingdom within the South West England
region for electoral purposes.
Spain took a complaint about Gibraltar participating in EU elections to the European Union’s high court, but their case was unsuccessful.
None of the main Gibraltar political parties contested the election, so voters chose from United Kingdom party lists. However, Lyana Armstrong-Emery
of the small Reform Party
had a place on a joint list with the Green Party
.
The Conservative Party
polled over two thirds of the Gibraltar vote, with no other party exceeding 10% support. This was to a large part due to the perception that the Labour
Government in Britain had "betrayed" Gibraltar by attempting to negotiate a constitutional settlement involving joint sovereignty with Spain. This arrangement was rejected overwhelmingly by Gibraltarians in the 2002 sovereignty referendum. The Conservatives were perceived as being unequivocal in their support for Gibraltar's continued British status. In addition both the leader of the Conservative Party, Michael Howard
, and his deputy, Michael Ancram
, flew in to rally support. Before the election the local Conservatives mounted a vigorous campaign.
Source: UK Office of the European Parliament
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
's first participation in the elections to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
were held on 10 June 2004 as part of Europe-wide elections
European Parliament election, 2004
Elections to the European Parliament were held from 10 June 2004 to 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom...
. Although part of the European Union, Gibraltar had never before voted in European Parliamentary elections, in part due to its small electorate of just over 20,000 which would cause Gibraltar to be over-represented by about 30 times if even a single seat were to be assigned.
This disenfranchisement applied by the United Kingdom was successfully challenged before the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
in 1999. As a result, from 2004 Gibraltar was included by the United Kingdom within the South West England
South West England (European Parliament constituency)
South West England is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation, reduced from 7 in 2004.-Boundaries:...
region for electoral purposes.
Spain took a complaint about Gibraltar participating in EU elections to the European Union’s high court, but their case was unsuccessful.
None of the main Gibraltar political parties contested the election, so voters chose from United Kingdom party lists. However, Lyana Armstrong-Emery
Lyana Armstrong-Emery
Lyana Patricia Armstrong-Emery is a former Gibraltarian politician, and the former party leader of the now defunct Gibraltar Reform Party, a left-of-centre and pro-ecology party with a close association with the Green Party of England and Wales...
of the small Reform Party
Reform Party (Gibraltar)
The Gibraltar Reform Party was a political party in Gibraltar. It was a left-leaning party which described itself as green and for social justice....
had a place on a joint list with the Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
polled over two thirds of the Gibraltar vote, with no other party exceeding 10% support. This was to a large part due to the perception that the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Government in Britain had "betrayed" Gibraltar by attempting to negotiate a constitutional settlement involving joint sovereignty with Spain. This arrangement was rejected overwhelmingly by Gibraltarians in the 2002 sovereignty referendum. The Conservatives were perceived as being unequivocal in their support for Gibraltar's continued British status. In addition both the leader of the Conservative Party, Michael Howard
Michael Howard
Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne, CH, QC, PC is a British politician, who served as the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from November 2003 to December 2005...
, and his deputy, Michael Ancram
Michael Ancram
Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian, PC, QC , known as Michael Ancram, is a United Kingdom Conservative Party politician. He is a member of the House of Lords, former Member of Parliament, and a former member of the Shadow Cabinet...
, flew in to rally support. Before the election the local Conservatives mounted a vigorous campaign.
Results
Turnout was 57.5% in Gibraltar, higher than the 37.6% for the electoral region as a whole.| Party | Votes (Gib.) | Votes (SW Eng) | % (Gib.) | % (SW Eng) | Change | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,297 | 457,371 | 69.52 | 31.6 | -10.1 | 3 | ||
| 1,127 | 209,908 | 9.44 | 14.5 | -3.6 | 1 | ||
| 1,058 | 103,821 | 8.70 | 7.2 | -1.1 | 0 | ||
| 905 | 265,619 | 7.58 | 18.3 | +1.9 | 1 | ||
| 140 | 326,784 | 1.17 | 22.6 | +11.9 | 2 | ||
| 105 | 43,653 | 0.88 | 3.0 | +2.1 | 0 | ||
| 88 | 30,824 | 0.74 | 2.1 | +2.1 | 0 | ||
| 20 | 10,473 | 0.17 | 0.7 | +0.7 | 0 | ||
Source: UK Office of the European Parliament