Campaign for a Referendum goes to Coventry

No, they haven't been sent to Coventry....

Press Release:

NIKKI SINCLAIRE GIVES COVENTRY THE CHANCE TO “HAVE THEIR SAY” ABOUT EU

Issue Date: 4^th April 2012

Independent West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire will be sending her Have Your Say Battle Bus to Cross Point Tesco in Coventry on the 5th April 2012 from 10am – 3pm. Nikki’s highly successful campaign has been featured across the national press as she delivered 100,000 signatures to Downing Street on 8^th September 2011. The Campaign for a Referendum on our continued membership of the European Union is carrying on collecting signatures across the region, as well as giving out information and advice about MEP’s and European Matters.

 Nikki wants a referendum so everybody has a chance to register their say on whether we should be a part of the European Union, and the West Midlands has contributed over half of the 100,000 signature total.

 Anyone under the age of 54 has never had the chance to speak about this issue, which Nikki believes is a breach of our democratic principles. The last time the UK held a referendum on the Common Market, as it was known then, was in 1975 – and even this was retrospective. Despite the fact that this campaign could leave Ms Sinclaire without a job, Nikki is passionate that people be given a voice in deciding whether it is right that:

·         The UK contributes £48 million per day to the EU

·         75% of UK laws are decided by the EU yet the UK only has 72 MEPs in the Parliament out of a total of 736 MEPs

·         Each day we buy £5 million more from EU countries than they buy from us.

Commenting on her “Have Your Say” campaign, Nikki Sinclaire said, “European Law is rarely conducive or indeed relevant to British industry or infrastructure. The EU takes almost £50 million a day of our money for the privilege of belonging - money better spent in this country, where we need it most - on our hospitals, on our schools and in supporting our pensioners. When will the political elite realise that Britain cannot afford to remain in this Parliament?”

Like many towns across the UK, Coventry faces mounting cuts to public services. Nikki finds it a disgrace that even as the British public tightens its belt, the EU approves budget rises and other measures which will impact on the British pocket.

Nikki’s team of advisers will be with her mobile surgery outside Cross Point Tesco in Coventry from 10am – 3pm to collect signatures for the campaign, hand out literature and to give out information and advice about Nikki and the European Union.

ENDS

Meriden RAID goes to court

I was with the Meriden protest group today as they wait to hear whether or not  the travellers appeal will be upheld or not.

We are obviously hoping that the judge takes the right decision and upholds Eric Pickles decision.

At around 7.45am I was on BBC Coventry and Warwickshires Shane O'Connor breakfast show to discuss the situation:

Already I have been featured on BBC West Midlands lunch time news and there was a high media presence. Videos will be uploaded as soon as we have them to hand.

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.