MP Richard Younger-Ross said the contest’s voting system needs to be changed because it is "harmful to the relationship between the peoples of Europe," joining the British media in its claims that many countries voted for their neighbors rather than for the best song on Saturday night’s final.

The MP further added that the British Broadcasting Services (BBC) should insist on voting changes or withdraw from covering the contest altogether. According to BBC News, Mr Younger-Ross said the present structure was a "joke", adding that votes were based "largely on narrow nationalistic grounds".

In this light he 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". However, he does agree that some countries do form "geographical regions.”

UK's entry "Flying the Flag (for You)" by Scooch, finished the second from the last in the contest with 19 points, 12 of which were came from Malta.

The Eurovision also came into focus in the European Parliament earlier this week with Dutch member Toine Manders lobbying for funds to set up an alternative to the festival. The new song festival is set to strengthen the European feeling and only EU member states will be allowed to participate with songs in the each country’s respective language.

According to Belgovision.com, several  investors and television broadcasters have already expressed interest in the alternative festival. Its results will be decided by televoting as well as a professional jury.

Meanwhile, Irish national broadcaster, RTE, is planning a review of its selection process for the Eurovision song contest after the country’s worst ever showing at the Helsinki final, reported The Stage News. They Can’t Stop the Spring by the traditional folk group Dervish was saved from the humiliation of nil points only after Albania gave the song five votes.

Malta’s entry Vertigo, sung by Olivia Lewis, failed to make it into the final round held on Saturday. It placed 25th out of the 28 participants on Thursday, receiving a meager 15 points from three countries. Olivia Lewis’ Vertigo obtained 7 points from Turkey, 6 from Albania and 2 from the UK. Forty-two countries voted in all.

MaltaSong board chairman Robert Abela insisted that he was trying to coordinate with other countries disappointed by Thursday's voting system to forward a formal request to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to reconsider things for next year. He also said that many results were "not based solely on the public vote", adding that "five or six" other countries during the contest were angered by block voting.  

For more detailed information about Malta's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest see EurovisionMalta.com.