Challenging the PM to give us a Referendum

I had the opportunity to challenge  the Prime Minister to give us a referendum on our membership of the European Union. As ever he was evasive but acknowledged the 100,000 petition that was delivered by me and other MEPs and MP's.

I pointed out that in a recent opinion poll 74% of Tory voters want a referendum. He was very pleasant but non committal

At the Conservative Conference

The Campaign had four promotional vehicles on duty

With my team outside the conference venue

4.30am. Fire alarm woke us all up. Thankfully it was a false alarm

Mobile Surgery/Battle Bus rolls into Nuneaton

On a freezing cold day hundreds of people, some responding to the article in the local newspaper the previous evening came to speak with me and sign the petition for a Referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

I was really tires having arrived home from Strasbourg at 11pm the previous evening but my spirits were raised by the enthusiasm of people wanting to have their say.

Campaign bus rolls on in Halesowen

My Campaign bus has been back on the road this week after the Christmas break. A few days ago it was in Leamington Spa. Today it was in the Black Country Town of Halesowen. This was my first outing with the bus this year. The visit ad been covered in advanced by the local press and a steady number of people, sometimes queueing came to sign the petition and to speak to me about the EU. Safe to say, the people of Halesowen want a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU and more to the point they would vote to get Britain out! I really enjoy these days and I wish my schedule would allow me to get out with the bus more often There is no substitute to speaking directly with the electorate. Many interesting constituency matters come to the fore including small businesses and enterprise (SME)  unable to obtain EU grants as a result of the Quango Advantage West Midland getting their marching orders and whist in their 'notice period' not bothering to assist these SME's. Unbelievably, EU funds (British taxpayers money) will be returned to the EU if it is unused. I will be following this up!



http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/local/8768938.Independent_MEP_returning_to_Halesowen_next_week_for_roadshow/

A Budget too far. Why the electorate must have their say!

Hilary Clinton's recent criticism of British defence cuts was unprecedented, and should serve as a warning to Mr Cameron's government: when one's closest friends start to publicaly question one's judgement, it is a clear sign that something is wrong.

The US press has today reported critically on other UK government spending cuts, highlighting not just the 8% reduction in defence spending, but also cuts of 27% and 23% from local government and Home Office budgets respectively.

It might be worth placing these cuts in the the context of an increase of 5.9% in the EU's annual budget, approved in Strasbourg this week. The British taxpayer will carry the brunt of this increase - our contribution already stands at a massive £8.3 billion per annum, and will now rise by almost a quarter to £10.3 billion. This represents a massive financial commitment at a time when we are being forced to make the most drastic cuts in public spending at home since the Second World War.

The British people have never had a say on the nature of our current relationship with the EU, although thanks to a proposed initiative by the coalition government, this can change. We are promised that a petition of 100,000 signatures will trigger a debate in the House of Commons, and I, and many voters, are now calling for this to happen - I have been overwhelmed by the support for my petition calling for a debate on Britain's continued membership of the EU, and I look forward to delivering it to 10 Downing Street shortly.

I accept that there are arguments both for and against our country's continued membership, but I believe that on such an important matter as this it should be for the people to decide. I, as a committed Eurosceptic, will accept and abide by whatever decision the people make - the challenge I am laying down is for the pro-EU lobby to make that same commitment to the electorate.