The West
Midlands has a thriving agricultural industry which is threatened by EU reform
- something that one West Midlands MEP wants to prevent happening.
Nikki Sinclaire
MEP’s team will pitch their mobile surgery at next week’s Staffordshire County
Show (Wednesday 29th – Thursday 30th May) to meet with
farmers and constituents at the event.
The We Demand a
Referendum NOW MEP will be the only
MEP at the event with a mobile surgery.
Nikki’s team
will also be engaging farmers about the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
which is being 'reviewed' for reform this year. 48% of the EU budget is spent
on agriculture with the French, Germans and Spanish the main beneficiaries.
Britain joined the EU after CAP was formed and struggled for its fair share
with the French in particular not willing to give up their national interest.
Nikki said
"Blair freely gave away half of the 'Thatcher Rebate' to obtain talks
about reform, now we must push the French to act equitably"
Nikki Sinclaire
said, ’Reform of the CAP is firmly back on the political agenda in 2013 as the
EU gears up for the next round of changes. I want as many British farmers to be
involved in the consultation process as possible as ultimately any changes
could severely impact their ability to do their jobs’’
Nikki Sinclaire
said of the event, “As the We Demand a Referendum Now MEP for the West Midlands,
I will always speak up in Brussels in support of British farmers. Using
official channels I will continue to urge the European Commission to have
greater consultation with British farmers over future proposals.
Farming and
agriculture are major employers in my constituency, and knowing how I can make
things easier for the sector in terms of EU legislation, is essential work.
My team is
really excited about taking the mobile surgery to the Staffordshire County Show
and they are looking forward to speaking to constituents on a range of issues”.
As well as
engaging on agricultural topics, Nikki’s team will be asking visitors whether
the EU gets their goat, giving people an opportunity to sign a pledge to say
they are demanding a referendum in 2014.
