by Neil Millard and David Rees

neil.millard@essnmedia.co.uk

The European Parliament elections take place on Thursday - but nobody knows who they are voting for it seems.

We asked 100 people at random to name any of the nine MEPs who represent Croydon in Europe - and only one person could.

Members of the European Parliament soak up millions of pounds of our money a year - so why is so little known about them?

Retiring Labour MEP Robert Evans, who represents Croydon and the rest of London, blames the media for not covering European politics enough.

"With respect that's a rather silly survey," he said. "If they are not household names, people are not going to recognise them.

"We're an ill-informed country about Europe. That includes the general population and that includes journalists. It's a vicious circle.

"If we have a lack of knowledge about something we tend to push it to one side and have this apprehension about it."

Those we approached in central Croydon this week delivered their own verdicts on why they do not know who represents them in Europe.

When asked to name one of our MEPs, Mark Roberts, 39, from Applegarth, New Addington, joked: "Sylvester Stallone? I've no idea. I'm not into it.

"I doubt anyone's into it."

Restaurateur Hassan Mach, 46, from Beulah Grove, West Croydon, says he has lost faith in all politicians.

"I don't know any of them because I'm not interested," he said.

"If they served the people I'd be interested but I haven't heard of them doing anything for anyone."

Labour's Claude Moraes says the way we now elect MEPs like him is to blame.

He explained: "The most important thing about it is that there are no constituency MEPs left. That finished in 1999.

"We end up covering an entire city. London is the same size as some small European countries in population. I actually think it's a great pity.

"It's not surprising what your survey says."

Clare Bacon, 35, from, Edgar Road, Sanderstead, agreed that this factor made a big difference.

She said: "If there was someone from our borough people might take notice.

"I couldn't name one. The public isn't interested in Europe."

While the people she represents may not know who she is, Labour's Mary Honeyball says she does fulfil a valuable role for the people of Croydon.

She said: "The sort of things we are involved in maybe don't catch the headlines but they do affect people's lives an awful lot.

"Almost three quarters of this country's legislation starts in Brussels."

UKIP's Gerard Batten proudly proclaimed he had not steered any legislation through the European Parliament - because he wants it shut down.

He was the only MEP to be named by a Croydon resident in our survey and said of the results: "I'm surprised it (the total of one) is so high. I'm very gratified that they knew who I was.

"If people don't know what's going on then I think it might have something to do with the media.

"When you go to Strasbourg and vote and come out of the chamber you will see television cameras and reporters from Germany, Italy, France and Spain but you will never see one from the UK."

The Green Party's London MEP, Jean Lambert, felt deflated by our findings.

She said: "It is depressing. We're not seen as part of the political culture in the UK.

"This is the challenge for those of us who are elected in the next Parliament, to make that connection."

But Conservative John Bowis was more surprised than anything else that Mr Batten was the only MEP named in the survey.

"I'm astonished actually," he said. "Because I have never seen him do anything."

WHO YOUR MEPs ARE

Syed Kamall - Conservative

Jean Lambert - Green Party

Mary Honeyball - Labour

Charles Tannock - Conservative

Sarah Ludford - Liberal Democrats

Claude Moraes - Labour

Gerard Batten - UKIP (UK Independence Party)

John Bowis - Conservative

Robert Evans - Labour