West Midland Euro-MP threatens to vote down Commission

3.53.44pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Oct 2004

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has said she will vote down the whole commission next week unless Commissioner Designate Italian Rocco Buttiglione, is moved from being responsible for promoting equal opportunities across Europe.

He told MEPs that he considered homosexuality a sin and described marriage as existing to allow woman to have children and be protected by a man. He has since said that single mothers do not make good mothers.

A parliamentary committee voted against Mr Buttiglione becoming the EU minister of justice, freedom and liberty and now the future of the entire Commission is under threat.

The European Parliament has no power to reject individual commissioners and may only approve or reject the entire 25-member body. The Liberal Democrat MEP says a precedent could be set if it rejects the commissioners in a vote next week in Strasbourg.

The Liberal Democrat MEP said: "This is the first time ever that MEPs have voted to oppose the nomination of a Commissioner for the portfolio he has been allocated. Now we have to insist that the views of the elected Parliament take precedence over those of the appointed Commission."

Liz Lynne said she hoped even at this late stage a compromise could still be reached to put Mr Buttiglione in charge of another portfolio and replace him with a more appropriate candidate.

She said: "I am not against him as a person, but it is not appropriate that the man in charge of equal opportunities should regard homosexuality as a sin and hold a very limited view of the role of women."