Region to get seventh MEP at cost of £2.1m

The West Midlands will get a seventh Member of European Parliament at a cost of £2.1 million a year, it emerged today.

New legislation to transfer more powers to Brussels will result in the creation of another MEPfor the West Midlands.

The move has been fiercely opposed by Eurosceptics who say it is unnecessary and undemocratic. The extra MEP will be appointed rather than elected and will be chosen based on the candidate who most narrowly missed out in the last European elections in 2009.

The post is likely to go to the Tories and the new member, Anthea McIntyre, would take her seat later this year.

West Midland MEP Nikki Sinclaire, who used to represent the United Kingdom Independence Party but now sits as an independent, said today: "The last thing we need at a time when front line services are being cut is another politician.

"Worse still, this person will be completely unelected.

"The election posters for the 2009 poll said the West Midlands was electing six MEPs, not seven. This should either be delayed until the next European elections or, if we really have to have another politician, it should be put to a vote at a convenient time, like the local elections in May when it won't cost too much.

"This extra politician will cost £2.1m a year because of salary, travel, expenses and the need for offices in the West Midlands, Brussels and Strasbourg."

Under the new EU Bill, any changes to treaties that move power to Brussels have to go to a national referendum. But there is a clause that allows a minister to state that any transfer of power to Brussels is not significant enough to merit a referendum.

Tory MEP Malcolm Harbour said: "This is being done entirely within the rules." He added that a by-election could not be held because the European Parliament is elected by proportional representation where every party has a list of candidates.

The legislation also states EU law only takes effect in the UK because the British parliament allows it to.