By Martin Banks - 19th January 2012
This really is what you call taking a huff
Godfrey Bloom
Failed parliament presidential candidate Diana Wallis has defended her controversial decision to quit as an MEP.
Wallis has decided to resign just days after she finished bottom of the poll for parliament's top job.
She will stay on until 31 January when her husband Stewart Arnold, who was second on the Liberal Democrat list in her Yorkshire constituency at the last European elections, is expected to take her seat in parliament.
Wallis won 141 votes in this week's election for president, one less than ECR member Nirj Deva and well behind the victor, Martin Schulz.
On her website on Thursday, Wallis issued a statement which said, "I have been in parliament 12 years and I think that is time enough. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and it was truly a huge privilege; especially to serve as a vice-president for the last five years.
"However, I think all of us, whatever our professions, need to turn a new page from time to time."
She continued, "At the mid-term of parliament many members come and go, so accordingly this moment following on from my unsuccessful bid for the presidency is a good time to take stock.
"I undertook that bid for reasons that I deeply believe in but such a course of action is bound to lead to reflection. I want to take a break from politics and to take time and assess what next."
"I have been at the service of the people of Yorkshire and the Humber for twelve and a half years.
"I will always be grateful for the trust that was placed in me to carry out this role, but now is the time for someone with fresh eyes to take over.
"I remain a committed pro-European Liberal Democrat."
But fellow Yorkshire MEP Godfrey Bloom was damning of her decision, saying, "This really is what you call taking a huff.
"One minute Wallis wants to be president of the European parliament, comes last and immediately decides she wants to feed sheep in Yorkshire instead.
"But trying to shoehorn her husband into her old salary as she resigns really is a working definition of nepotism in my opinion. One Wallis is as bad as another.
"The Lib Dems are always screaming in favour of gender quotas. Diana Wallis has gone all quiet about that now. Jobs for the boys now - you could hardly make this story up."
ALDE member Chris Davies was also critical, saying the likelihood that Wallis' husband will take her seat would "pour scorn" on the rest of parliament.
Another British Liberal MEP, who did not wish to be named, said, "Diana Wallis stood for the presidency on a pro-democracy ticket, speaking out against the stitch-up for the presidency between parliament's two biggest groups.
"However, I am afraid that what she has done here has all the hallmarks of a stitch-up."
ALDE member Edward McMillan-Scott was more supportive. He said that he was saddened by Wallis' resignation and paid tribute to her five years' work as a vice-president, notably in transparency, the MEPs' new code of conduct and reforming the parliament's library.
McMillan-Scott said, "I am sure Diana was shocked and surprised by the result of the presidential election, especially coming second to a candidate from David Cameron's ECR group. I have not spoken to her about this but the assumption generally was that she would do better."
Other colleagues were also quick to support Wallis, with UK Lib Dem leader Fiona Hall saying, "Diana has been a high profile member of the Liberal Democrat delegation in parliament, which she led from December 2001 until June 2004 and again from June 2006 to January 2007.
"She was an outstanding and hard working member and ALDE coordinator of the legal affairs committee. In her five years as a vice-president she made a name for herself as a champion of transparency.
"In this role, she negotiated the new joint lobby register of parliament and commission and the new code of conduct for MEPs and was a driving force behind greater access to parliamentary documents.
"A great believer in participatory democracy, Diana was also very much committed to engaging people with the EU legislative process. Her work on the new European citizens' initiative ensured that the admissibility criteria and checks were as open, unbureaucratic and as citizen-friendly as possible.
"This resignation is an entirely personal decision by Diana. Being an MEP is a very demanding and time-consuming job and after 12 years and having achieved so much, I can understand that she might want to turn a page.
"On a personal note, I am very grateful to Diana for all the help and support she offered to me personally even before I was elected as an MEP."
Sir Graham Watson, a former ALDE leader, also praised Wallis, saying, "She and her husband have always been a team and her decision to step down now will allow him to become an MEP and also to stand for election in 2014.
"She has always been a diligent, intelligent and constructive MEP and parliament has been better off for having her here.
"However, I think it's true to say that she was disappointed at the election result this week and expected to do better. I think she deserved more than the votes she received."
