Away Day

9.00 The luxury of a late start. Spoilt a little becase the MEP sharing my car is not ready to depart on time. Get to office and finish the damages actions amendments and try to organise some meetings, then it is off to plenary votes at 12.00. This is the first voting session chaired by Poettering in his new position os President and he seems a little nervous. He does not set a good rhythm and on the electronic votes there is not enough time to check, lose concentration and you get it wrong. I hope someone tells him. The votes are nearly all second reading issues so ‘qualified majorities’ of half of the total number of MEPs (not just half of those present) are needed. It looks to me as if there are a few too many absentees, and this proves the case as quite a lot of amendments that have a majority of those present do not get passed. Voting lasts until nearly 1.30

14.00 The UK Lib Dems are staying in Strasbourg for an ‘Awayday’, which extends over dinner. It was going to include tomorrow as well but we have all found reasons to do other things! I change my flight to an early one tomorrow. It seems there are loads of cancellations because of the wind, so just as well I am not heading back today. We have fixed up to visit flood planes in Wokingham on Sunday. All fits in with insuring.