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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| MP demands Eurovision vote change | MP demands Eurovision vote change |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The Eurovision Song Contest voting system needs to be changed because it is "harmful to the relationship between the peoples of Europe", an MP has said. | The Eurovision Song Contest voting system needs to be changed because it is "harmful to the relationship between the peoples of Europe", an MP has said. |
| Countries voted for their neighbours rather than the best songs, Liberal Democrat MP Richard Younger-Ross said. | Countries voted for their neighbours rather than the best songs, Liberal Democrat MP Richard Younger-Ross said. |
| And the BBC should insist on voting changes or withdraw from covering the contest altogether, he added. | |
| Serbia won Saturday's contest, while the UK was second from bottom, only receiving votes from Ireland and Malta. | Serbia won Saturday's contest, while the UK was second from bottom, only receiving votes from Ireland and Malta. |
| Mr Younger-Ross said the present structure was a "joke", adding that votes were based "largely on narrow nationalistic grounds". | Mr Younger-Ross said the present structure was a "joke", adding that votes were based "largely on narrow nationalistic grounds". |
| Richard Younger-Ross said the voting system was a "joke"He has tabled a Commons early day motion, which has been backed by fellow Liberal Democrat Colin Breed plus Labour MPs John Robertson and David Drew. | Richard Younger-Ross said the voting system was a "joke"He has tabled a Commons early day motion, which has been backed by fellow Liberal Democrat Colin Breed plus Labour MPs John Robertson and David Drew. |
| Derek Gatherer, who has spent years studying Eurovision voting patterns, thinks suggesting the current system is a joke is a bit "heavy". | Derek Gatherer, who has spent years studying Eurovision voting patterns, thinks suggesting the current system is a joke is a bit "heavy". |
| However, he does agree that some countries do form "geographical regions". | However, he does agree that some countries do form "geographical regions". |
| He said: "Less than a third of the total votes for the winning entry were ones which seemed to have been influenced by block voting. | He said: "Less than a third of the total votes for the winning entry were ones which seemed to have been influenced by block voting. |
| "It does make it rather harder for us to win, but it's not to suggest that all the votes are necessarily given out according to these local alliances," he added. | "It does make it rather harder for us to win, but it's not to suggest that all the votes are necessarily given out according to these local alliances," he added. |
| On Monday, Malta called for phone votes in certain countries to be scrapped until they can be monitored more closely. | On Monday, Malta called for phone votes in certain countries to be scrapped until they can be monitored more closely. |
| Robert Abela, who headed Malta's contingent, said many results were "not based solely on the public vote". | Robert Abela, who headed Malta's contingent, said many results were "not based solely on the public vote". |
| He added "five or six" other countries during Saturday's contest were angered by block voting - where neighbours back each other regardless of the song. | He added "five or six" other countries during Saturday's contest were angered by block voting - where neighbours back each other regardless of the song. |
| "If the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) cannot 100% monitor how the system is being done in some of the ex-Soviet countries, I think they should do away with (phone voting)," he said. | "If the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) cannot 100% monitor how the system is being done in some of the ex-Soviet countries, I think they should do away with (phone voting)," he said. |
| He also confirmed that the 12 points Malta awarded to UK entry Scooch - more than half their final total - was a protest at the way so many countries vote for their neighbours. | He also confirmed that the 12 points Malta awarded to UK entry Scooch - more than half their final total - was a protest at the way so many countries vote for their neighbours. |
| Marija Serifovic (centre) won for Serbia with her ballad MolitvaCriticism has also surfaced in Germany, where tabloid newspaper Bild questioned why Western European countries should pay the largest amount for a competition they seemed to have no chance of winning. | Marija Serifovic (centre) won for Serbia with her ballad MolitvaCriticism has also surfaced in Germany, where tabloid newspaper Bild questioned why Western European countries should pay the largest amount for a competition they seemed to have no chance of winning. |
| It quoted singer Nicole, Germany's sole Eurovision winner, as saying: "It is obvious that Eastern European countries engage in dirty trade with points every year. | It quoted singer Nicole, Germany's sole Eurovision winner, as saying: "It is obvious that Eastern European countries engage in dirty trade with points every year. |
| "Germany should withdraw from the competition." | "Germany should withdraw from the competition." |
| The EBU were unavailable for comment. | The EBU were unavailable for comment. |
| BBC DJ Paul Gambaccini told Radio 4's Today programme he thought about half of the voting was for political reasons. | BBC DJ Paul Gambaccini told Radio 4's Today programme he thought about half of the voting was for political reasons. |
| He said: "Britain's votes plummeted with the invasion of Iraq and have stayed in the basement with the occupation. | He said: "Britain's votes plummeted with the invasion of Iraq and have stayed in the basement with the occupation. |
| "There has always been a political dimension to Eurovision, the love-fest between Greece and Cyprus has been noted for a long time. | "There has always been a political dimension to Eurovision, the love-fest between Greece and Cyprus has been noted for a long time. |
| "Now with the public voting instead of the panel voting it is really extensive." | "Now with the public voting instead of the panel voting it is really extensive." |