As part of the democratic process I think it is important that people who wish to leave the EU can make this known through the european elections. Having members of the EU Parliament from the UKIP party is just reflecting the views of a significant number of people who voted with that view - this is not something I would say is hypocritical. The hypocritical issue which might arise can come from those members elected to the EU parliament then using their position for personal gain - taking the expenses and salary offered for the role beyond what is reasonable (but still legally allowed), and not stating their case for which they were elected forcefully enough. It might be like Turkeys calling for christmas, but if that's the only way to get representation, I think the need for representation outweighs any argument for sulking on the edges and not joining the game, if I can use an analogy..

The option of rallying the public not to vote for MEP's is IMO not a sensible approach, as that will lead to democracy being undermined - indeed, to some extent this position is with us now - with a majority never voting at european elections - but MEP's are still elected and the process goes on! In reality, politicians who get elected only need enough people to vote for them to see off the opposition, (with PR , the system is a little more complex, but the statement is reasonably correct), so they are not particularly interested in the non voter argument - as non voters dont vote for anybody! UKIP is now able to represent those people who would otherwise not be able to vote in european elections because there was no "leave the EU" candidates available that they supported. Electors for the European parliament will be disenfranchised without a party like UKIP being willing to stand in the election. At least some of those who were (before UKIP came along) unwilling to vote at european elections, can now do so.

Unfortunately teaching doesn't seem to be the only profession suffering at the hands of bureaucracy. I've heard similiar stories from nurses, Police Officers and other public sector professionals.

It's time to say enough is a enough. The whole system of keeping paperwork needs an overhaul to sort what's neccessary from what's not.

Tax, as menioned, but possibly needs to be more focussed than just the word "tax". No one likes to pay it, but it is necessary to make society work as most people would like!

Of course, some of that tax, goes to fund the EU budget - and is spent without our control.

I think there is a focus on some services more than others when the "others" should get a bigger slice of the cake, than some of the more "popular" choices.

For example, we all need to get about for our daily lives - okay maybe we dont need to get about every single day but everybody in the country probably uses some form of transport infrastructure - be it roads/ rail/ cycle lanes / airports etc. at least once a week, probably more. This is true whether we are a child, middle aged or elderly.
AND... there is tens of billions of pounds raised in motoring taxes every year, but only a tiny amount gets put back into the transport budget.

On the basis that so many people depend on it every week, regardless of age, I would like to see Transport given higher priority by politicians - education and NHS gets high profile - and money to match, but the population at large does not benefit from these services as regularly or at each stage in life, as Transport services affect us. We are seeing higher costs all the time, yet our taxes are not being spent to allieviate the desperate failings in infrastructure of our transport system.