Food Banks in the Leek and Cheadle Times

Taken from the Leek and Cheadle Times newspaper:

 

A TEAM from the office of West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire spent all last Wednesday collecting donations for local food banks at Cheadle’s ASDA store.
The MEP has been raising debt awareness and organising collections for food banks for a number of months, and the next stop on her food collection tour was the Moorlands store.

 

Nikki said: “Research last month shows that 500,000 people across the UK last year used a food bank to eat.

“Food banks are doing vital work in the West Midlands to feed families at a time when they may need a bit extra support. I know the difference it makes to people’s lives”.

The, We Demand a Referendum Now MEP, added: “Its amazing that we now pay £53 million a day to the European Union, while we cannot afford to feed people in our own country.”



An explanation of votes: Social housing

1.3 Million Families, that is 1 in 4 families in England, are on lower incomes and have to spend a third of their net income on housing. This is largely due to the shortage of private rental sector housing which was exacerbated in the 1980’s by the Conservative party not building social housing programmes and the Labour party of the 90’s not really tackling this issue.

I’m glad it’s a national competence and it should stay a national competence. However, the EU has a detrimental impact. We currently have a Government in the United Kingdom that does not know how many people will be coming from Romania and Bulgaria or indeed from across the European Union.

How are our local authorities supposed to make provision, when provision already doesn’t meet demand? Hence the problem with the people in the private housing sector not being able to afford to spend a third of their income on housing, for example £500 in Coventry. That is not affordable.

Nikki Sinclaire MEP discusses EU poverty payments - Charity begins at home

The use of EU funding to tackle domestic poverty issues is highly unfair on the taxpayers of those few countries that actually make significant contributions to the EU budget.

In the UK there is growing resentment towards those member states that are seen as being ‘takers’. It deeply regrettable that the UK, with its great tradition of helping those less fortunate than itself has a growing resentment about funding this and that EU project   whilst British people are suffering crippling cut backs at home. No wonder more and more people are turning against the EU.

Only this last week the leading philanthropist Bill Gates, a regular visitor to the European Parliament congratulated the United Kingdom on its remarkable record in Foreign Aid.

Incidentally, a record the EU likes to piggy back and take the credit for.

This report acknowledges that member states should take responsibility for issues of poverty and social inclusion, and that the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived should not be seen as replacing those responsibilities.

But what message is sent out by the call for an increased budget for the fund in 2014-2020?

Who will supply the extra money?

The 200,000 British citizens who are dependent on food banks in order to feed their families?

The growing army of unemployed youth?

The economic crisis, largely the fault of the Eurozone, is now so bad that we now have to say: Charity Begins At Home.

 

Taken from the Sun on Sunday 9th June 2013 - EURO VAT PRATS

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4961238/EU-wants-UK-VAT-hike-on-gas-oil-kids-clothes-and-dying.html

MEDDLING EU chiefs are demanding crippling VAT hikes on everyday goods.

They threaten to send energy bills soaring with a FOUR-FOLD rise in tax on gas, electricity and heating oil. 

The cost of all reduced or zero-rated goods — including water supplies, kids’ clothes and even funerals — could rocket under plans to end VAT-free sales. 

Eurocrats want us to impose a single rate on all goods to wipe £3billion off national debt.
The move comes just two years after Brussels arm-twisted ministers into raising the standard rate to 20p in the pound. 

The European Commission’s recommendation of the UK’s national reform programme demands action to guarantee work or training for youngsters, more childcare and better transport. 

The document says: “In order to raise revenue, make greater use of the standard rate of VAT.” 

West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire has tabled a formal question to the Commission demanding an explanation. 

But David Cameron will be under pressure to back the plan at a European Council meeting in Brussels later this month. 

Last night Chancellor George Osborne was said to be furious and has told aides there is “no chance” he will let it happen. 

A senior Treasury source said: “Our plans are based on spending reductions, not more tax rises.” 

But a European Commission spokesman said: “The UK needs to reduce debt without new taxes on labour, which hit jobs.”

A visit to Stoke on Trent college

 

I was delighted to be able to speak at Stoke on Trent college this morning.

 

The college is home to 2500 16-18 year olds, but has a total of 15,000 students working in various areas, including learning in the work place.

 

I was priviledged to speak to a number of students about the role of an MEP and the wide variety of work that an MEP can undertake.

 

As an MEP who sits on the employment committee, it was great to meet students who are training in many different areas of employment. Youth employment is something we must tackle in this country.

 

The students were engaging and we had a good discussion about why some young people do not feel like they want to, or even should vote. It was refreshing to hear their views on politics today and their desire to learn more about politics.

 

I wish them well at the college in everything they are studying.

 

PRESS RELEASE: Nikki Sinclaire MEP saddened by death of Baroness Margaret Thatcher

Nikki Sinclaire MEP saddened by death of Baroness Margaret Thatcher

 

 

April 8^th 2013

 

Nikki Sinclaire MEP has spoken of her sadness on the passing of Margaret Thatcher today.

 

The West Midlands MEP lists Margaret Thatcher as one of her inspirations. At the age of 10 and from a working class background, Nikki found Baroness Thatcher inspirational and her example encouraged Nikki to embark on a political career herself.

 

Nikki later went on to meet Margaret Thatcher at a Bruges Group meeting where they spoke about Nikki standing as an MEP. Baroness Thatcher told Nikki to “Never give up, never give up”.

 

Nikki says,

 

“I am saddened by her death. I feel extremely privileged to have met her myself.

 

I accept that Margaret Thatcher was a polarising figure, however her legacy will live on.

 

She was the peace time saviour of Britain".

 

In the Latvian Press

A number of weeks ago, I submitted a question to the European Commission to intervene in the case of alleged mis-use of EU regional funds in Latvia.
In a parliamentary question to the executive, I asked the commission to investigate claims that Latvia has ‘not respected’ EU rules in the distribution of European Regional Development Funds.
The story was covered online by The Parliament magazine website, and you can see the full story here.

Well the story has made the press in Latvia itself, and the issue will be discussed in Latvian Parliament on the 6th February 2013.

Here is a clipping of the article I am featured in:

Time to settle the argument once and for all - free of propaganda

Today sees the release of yet another YouGov opinion poll on voting intentions should the UK hold a referendum on Britain’s EU membership.

 

 

 

The poll, conducted over the 17^th & 18^th of January 2013, reveals that 40% would choose to stay in the EU, compared to 34% that want to leave the EU. 5% said they would not vote on the issue, and 20% said they did not know how they would vote. As the table below shows, this is a marked change since November 2012, and has stark differences to polls taken on earlier dates.

 

This result is simply an anomaly. It is not surprising that there are changes to opinion over a short period of time when the media propagates stories which are based around EU scaremongering. Already we have seen scare tactics, claiming that the UK will lose business if we did not choose to stay in the European Union. Coupled with the effect of President Obama and his administration calling for a strong UK relationship with the European Union, it is no wonder that there has been a temporary change in opinion.

 

What has stayed the same throughout is that only 5% of people, on average, would not vote on this issue. 95% of the electorate potentially want a vote on this issue. Even if we discount those who do not know how they would vote, we have on average, over 75% of the electorate who have an opinion on this issue and who should be given a say.

 

If anything, this latest poll result strengthens the We Demand a Referendum Party’s call for a Royal Commission to outline the benefits and negatives of EU membership, to give everyone an informed unbiased opinion on this crucial topic.

We can analyse statistics all day long. This is not an issue that can be resolved by polls alone.

 

We Demand a Referendum on this crucial issue because it is time to settle the argument once and for all. This is not about political posturing, or one-upmanship. This is about democracy, pure and simple.

Let us have a free and fair debate, and once and for all let the people decide so that we can move on.

 

Human Rights delegation to Bahrain

 

 

Back from a human rights fact finding mission in Bahrain. This included high level meetings with Government ministers and members of Parliament as well as human rights defenders. This also included a visit to Jau prison to visit Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and Ibrahim Sharif. They are both incarcerated for allegedly taking part in violent demonstrations. 

 

 

 

Nikki Sinclaire MEP and Councillor Linda Brown talk to BBC WM

Linda Brown and her winning team!

 

A Week in the Life of Nikki Sinclaire MEP

A week in the life of Nikki Sinclaire MEP

http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/1667/seven-days-a-week-in-the-life-of-nikki-sinclaire

On Daybreak 3rd February 2012

I had an incredibly early start Friday morning when I appeared on ITV's Daybreak show in support of those at the Meriden RAID protest site.

For further information on the Meriden RAID group please click here



Friday archive: My first ever speech in Parliament

I've dug through the archives today, and have found a copy of my first ever speech in Parliament. Almost 3 years in and still fighting to get you out.

14 September 2009

“Mr President, I do not accept the validity of this Parliament or any other EU institution to make laws for the United Kingdom.

My electors have sent me here to tell you that they do not want £45 million of their money every single day spent in the European Union. We want that money spent in the UK on our schools, on our hospitals and our infrastructure, not wasted on corruption with your accounts not being audited for 14 years.

Simply, I have this message from the people who elected me to the Commission: go back to your bureaucracy and prepare for the UK’s withdrawal from the corrupt and doomed mess that is the European Union”.

Joining the Employment Committee

As well as a change over in President last week and the beginning of the Danish Council Presidency, MEP's also had the chance to change committees if they so wished.

At this halfway point you have the choice to change Committees if you so wish, and the press release which you can find here, will explain that I have joined the Employment committee.

Joining Committees


Places on committees are allocated by each of the political groups. Each MEP generally has two committees but this is not always the case. If members change political group, or simply want to change which committee they sit on, this can be done at the halfway point.

Which MEP gets which place is for negotiation between them and their group. Some groups do not give their members much choice over which committees that they sit on. 

As a non-attached MEP, Nikki negotiated her new places herself with the Parliament's administration.

When I became an MEP I promised to fight for jobs for people in my constituency. With growing levels of youth unemployment, I am incredibly worried about the job prospects for young people in the UK. I will fight EU legislation which will lead to less jobs being created.

I have spoken about the loss of jobs in the West Midlands in my speeches in Parliament, specifically noting the Peugeot Ryton Plant in Coventry

Nikki talks about youth unemployment and unemployment in the West Midlands in the above video, also referencing the Ryton Plant.

Press Release: West Midlands MEP joins the Employment Committee

West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire today takes her seat on the European Parliament's Employment Committee in Brussels.

Since her election in 2009, Nikki has spoken out strongly against EU policies and subsidies that have led to British businesses relocating to other EU member states. It was a £105 million grant from the EU that led to Peugeot closing its factory in Ryton and relocating to Slovakia in 2007 with the loss of 2,300 jobs.

Some of the main issues that Nikki will be addressing will include health & safety of workers, and tackling the problems of unemployment. Sometimes, said Nikki, EU policy is confused to say the least. "On the one hand, the EU wants to put more young people into employment, and on the other it wants to raise the retirement age as part of its active aging policy, whilst at the same time creating new taxes on business transactions. We need to remove all this political ideology and bureaucratic red tape and let our businesses get on and do what they are best at - creating jobs and prosperity".

Nikki has voted and acted consistently to protect British business and workers, and rejects what she describes as "EU interference and over-regulation" in British affairs.

ENDS

 Notes to Editors:

The Employment & Social Affairs Committee is responsible for:

employment policy and all aspects of social policy such as working conditions, social security and social protection;
health and safety measures at the workplace;
the European Social Fund;
vocational training policy, including professional qualifications;
the free movement of workers and pensioners;
social dialogue;
all forms of discrimination at the workplace and in the labour market except those based on sex;
relations with:
          -    the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop),
          -    the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions,
          -    the European Training Foundation,
          -    the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work;
          -    as well as relations with other relevant EU bodies and international organisations

Danish presidency priorities:

check page 13 & page 50 http://eu2012.dk/en/EU-and-the-Presidency/About-the-Presidency/~/media/Files/Presidency%20programme/EU%20Presidency_Programme_UK_Final%20Web_22_12.ashx
 

Nikki says no to EU legislation on Motorcycles

After a busy week in Strasbourg and a busy weekend of football (don't mention the Worcester or Liverpool scores....) I have arrived back to my office to a full inbox once again. We regularly receive emails on the following issue and I have decided to post this on my blog, with the response I have been sending to people.

"I am very concerned about  the content and progress of a piece of European Legislation, currently timetabled for Plenary vote on 14th March.This will affect my primary means of transport (motorcyling) and a valuable leaisure activity (riding, repairing and mainaining
motorcycles. It will also affect my children who are keen fans of the sport/mode of transport.

This issue is also important in terms of UK control over legislation. I consider myself to be an Englishman within Europe rather than a European living in England. I do not want to take an anti-Europe stance gebnerally but believe that some legislation (particularly in respect
of vehicles) needs to be kept within UK control.Article 18a is of relevance here.

The proposed EU Regulation on Type Approval and Market Surveillance motorcycles passed  Committee stage on 5th December despite an incomplete impact assessment.

New elements including the  mandatory ABS for all motorcycles, the introduction of a new Article 18a (see below) and the Delegated Acts have moved beyond the scope of the Commission's original proposal. ABS technology is not as advanced as for cars and there are many riding conditions where combined braking systems (in which the industry has
invested heavily) are more suitable.  The Commission’s mandating of ABS is therefore not feasible for motorcycling at this stage. Articles 17 and 52 directly affect motorcyclists as consumers, controlling the sale and availability of after-market parts within the EU and the modification of certain aspects of the machine to suit riding conditions. This includes simple service items and is akin to forcing car drivers to buy only genuine parts down to the level of
service items.

A significant plennary vote is timetabled for  14th March 2012. This is too soon to enable sufficient discussion  permits no time within the chamber for debate.

Clearly a debate is needed as there are many parts of this Regulation which I, as a rider and consumer, welcome, so this cannot be a yes/no vote on the acceptance or rejection of the proposal as a whole.

 Article 22 aims to have CO2 emissions published at point of sale for motorcycles is welcomed.  Also of interest and in need of debate/representation is Paragraph 9 (page 11) which aims to over-turn previous decisions relating to power limits for motorcycles (1995).

This debate my be informed by the fact that  no evidence can be found of a correlation between safety and power. This assertion rather undermines one of the central tenets of the whole proposal, that speed or 'tuning' has a detrimental effect on safety, again forcing the
assumption that the Commission’s proposals appear to be less  evidence based and more a matter of crass and uninformed (public) opinion."

The following is the response that is being sent back:

"Thank you for your email concerning the EU regulations on motorbikes. We have been against these proposals from the very start, supported the MAG staged protest last year and shall oppose these proposals at every opportunity when they come before us in the EU "parliament". These proposals only adds to the growing already very BIG list of reasons why'd we'd be better off out the EU !!

 The motorcycle community needs EU intervention like a fish needs a bicycle –  It is outrageous that the EU should try to dictate to them or anyone else on the basis on which their bikes must be repaired and even if changes needed to be made, changes should be taken by our democratically elected politicians in Westminster, not by faceless bureaucrats in Brussels."

Further information on this proposal can be found on the following website: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-26/

Nikki's response to the programme of the Danish presidency of the council of the European Union 2012

The European Parliament today welcomed Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt (pictured) to the chamber this morning following the presentation of the programme of the Danish Presidency of the council of the European Union 2012. If you would like to read in full the 62 page document, it is available on the following link:

http://eu2012.dk/en/EU-and-the-Presidency/About-the-Presidency/~/media/Files/Presidency%20programme/EU%20Presidency_Programme_UK_Final%20Web_22_12.ashx

Although yesterday we saw the appointment of the new president of the Parliament in the shape of Martin Schulz, Denmark are now taking their turn in being the Chair of the European Council.

The Presidency of the Council

Taken from http://www.consilium.europa.eu/council?lang=en

The EU's 27 Member States take it in turn to chair the Council for a period of six months each. During this six-month period, the Presidency chairs meetings at every level, proposes guidelines and draws up the compromises needed for the Council to take decisions.
In the interests of continuity of Council business, the six-monthly presidencies work together closely in groups of three. These three-Presidency teams draw up a joint programme of Council work over an 18-month period.
Only one Council configuration is not chaired by the six-monthly presidency: the Foreign Affairs Council, which, since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, has been chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Since 1 December 2009 this post has been held by Ms Catherine Ashton. Roughly twenty working parties in the foreign affairs field also have a permanent chairman appointed by the High Representative.

Further information on the Council's role within the European Union can be found on http://www.consilium.europa.eu/council?lang=en

Following the presentation of the programme for Danish Presidency, MEP's were invited to discuss what was in the programme. 

 text of my speech here

Speech in Strasbourg chamber: 18th January 2011

Madam Prime Minister,You take on the Presidency of the EU at a time when Unacceptable behaviour threatens democratic principles.  Such Behaviour has become endemic and institutionalised in the European Union.  We have seen in recent months elected leaders being bullied out of office and replaced by unelected technocrats by an over dominant, German leader, and her French poodle!

With a possible new treaty on the way, the EU apparatchiks are desperately looking to find a way to include all 27 countries without a need for referenda. So much for democracy! No wonder people across Europe are rioting, the message is there for all to see, but the EU turns its head away

You again hold the Presidency at a decisive moment - the possible demise of the Euro. At a time of crisis and uncertainty, the EU is looking to the Danish Presidency for a strong lead. How telling it is that it is a country from outside the Eurozone that is taking the helm. The EU is looking to the IMF to help bail out the troubled Euro.  How telling it is that the UK, a country from outside the Eurozone, ridiculed and threatened here in December is being asked to prop up the IMF at this time.

First publication of 2012

We are barely two weeks into the new year and I have produced my first new magazine of the year. The magazine is due to hit the doormats over the coming week or so. The news concerning the Eurozone crisis has moved so quickly since I submitted my 100,000 petition at the end of 2010. I hope everybody who gets this new issue enjoys what they read and continues to support the Campaign. My objective to leave the EU is still the top of the agenda for me!

WEST MIDLANDS MEP NIKKI SINCLAIRE PRESENTS MOST UNDEMOCRATIC COUNCIL AWARD TO WALSALL

Walsall council thought they’d heard the last of one West Midlands MEP, but she has come back after months of being ignored by Walsall council to present them with the award of “Most undemocratic council in the West Midlands”.

Walsall council confirmed their decision to prevent an MEP from meeting her constituents in a meeting which was held back in September.

Independent MEP Nikki Sinclaire was denied permission for her Mobile Surgery to visit the town centre in Walsall back in July when the application was first made. The original planning committee meeting, which was held on July 20^th, referred the issue to a Full Council meeting which was held last night (September 12^th) in which the recommendation to deny Ms Sinclaire’s request to bring her vehicle into the town centre was upheld. Walsall have become the one and only council in the whole of the West Midlands to deny Ms Sinclaire a spot within the town centre to meet the people who voted to put her in her role. 

Under council rules which were outlined in a letter from Chief Executive Paul Sheehan in July, the criteria for being allowed on the highway in Walsall is as follows, “Exhibitions and displays will only be permitted on the highway in the Borough where the organisation requesting the display is a charity, a local community group based in Walsall or a public service organisation”.

Prior to this communication, a member of Ms Sinclaire’s team in August 2010 emailed Walsall Council to find out where the Mobile Surgery could be parked to meet people in the town. Hazel Powell, Senior Licensing Officer, replied to the staff member stating “Unfortunately political parties are not permitted to the use the designated sites therefore we are unable to meet your request”.

Following a meeting of the licensing and safety committee on the 20^th July, Ms Sinclaire was informed that her request, under the Highways Act 1980 Section 115 (E) Promotional Site Activity, had been denied as the mobile surgery did not meet the criteria determined by the council.

Following this meeting, Ms Sinclaire and her team were promised a letter with a list of places which Nikki could use to meet the people of Walsall. This letter has never been received despite numerous requests both on the phone and social media.

The West Midlands MEP is one of 7 MEP’s who covers the region which has 5.2 million constituents. In the past year, Nikki Sinclaire’s mobile surgery has virtually covered every town and city within the West Midlands region. Nikki is now planning to have a meeting with Chief Executive of the council, Paul Sheehan, to discuss this important matter further.

Nikki said of the decision, “In these times where people feel disconnected from their politicians, Walsall council’s decision not to allow my surgery into Walsall is an affront to democracy. It is also unfair that some of Walsall councillors use council property to run their surgeries.

The people of Walsall have a right to be able to meet me. I’m the only MEP with a mobile surgery, and Walsall Council is the only council who are opposed to my presence.

Usually councils enjoy getting awards, but this will probably be an unwanted accolade. I hope in 2012 I can finally meet the people of Walsall to discuss vital issues which affect them.”