OECD cuts roaming charges in the EU

The EU have finally got around to implementing the OECD's recommendations for reforms to mobile phone roaming charges.

Mobile phone companies have been hiking their prices over the last couple of years to compensate for the £350m loss of income from roaming charges ahead of their abolition in 2017. Big cuts to roaming charges came into effect today, reducing roaming charges by about three quarters.

The OECD tasked regulators and industry bodies with finding ways to reduce or abolish roaming charges, one of which was the EU. Not that you'd know from the self-congratulation from our wise and benevolent masters in Brussels!

A Picture of Life outside The EU - 2020

You will hear a lot of scare stories about how our country will struggle if we leave the EU from those in the ‘Yes’ campaign.
Here is what it could really be like……..
The year is 2020 and Britain is adjusting to life and thriving outside of the declining European Union.
Free from the need to negotiate trade deals via unelected EU commissioners, a series of agreements with the emerging nations of the world have boosted exports and revitalised our industries. Unwilling to lose their largest European market, the remaining EU states have swiftly confirmed free trade agreements with the UK and the job losses predicted by the ‘Yes’ campaign fail to materialise.
Re-engaging with our traditional world partners, most notably the Commonwealth, has invigorated our shipping industries and cities such as Liverpool and Glasgow once again hum to the sound of machinery as exports grow and vessels come and go, offloading such produce as New Zealand lamb and transporting out machinery exports, pharmaceuticals and high tech equipment.
With much of the EU red tape removed from our small and medium industries they once again start to drive economic growth. Repeal of EU diktat on renewable energy and the large combustion plant directive means that energy once again becomes cheaper, driving down costs for businesses and making them more competitive on the world stage.

Overseas investors and companies look to re-locate to England as they realise that it is a far better place to do business than the over-regulated market on the mainland. With the Government free to set their own business rates, inward capital flourishes whilst tax avoidance drops as the loopholes inherent in the EU system are no longer available. The likes of Google, Vodafone and Starbucks are creating jobs whilst paying their fair share to the Treasury.
Freed from the Common Fisheries policy, our fish stocks start to recover and with it the ports in Cornwall, the Humber and Kent as our once proud fishing fleets start to get back on their feet and employ our youngsters in the traditional jobs that their grandparents knew so well.
Financial services, for so long our number one source of income, have been unshackled from the EU’s financial transaction tax and a myriad of unnecessary regulations to once again become a world leader. The brightest talents from the continent are flocking to London as growth outstrips the other major financial centres of Frankfurt, Paris and Milan. Banks and trading houses that were looking to move to Singapore and Hong Kong reconsider their decisions as conditions are now more suited to their business models, with employment in service industries in the City also growing to support the boom.
With the UK once again able to control its own borders, a fairer immigration system along the lines of an Australian style points model is introduced. Our own government with the needs of the country in mind now decide who and how many are allowed to settle here, with all judged on ability rather than their country of origin.
EU nationals already in the UK from our previous membership see their living standards rise as they no longer have to compete with uncontrolled numbers of unskilled workers arriving on our shores, whilst youth unemployment falls.
With wages rising, the bill for in work benefits starts to decrease and that money is re-invested in to training and infrastructure upgrades, bringing further opportunities.
The housing crisis finally starts to ease as new builds can keep up with population increases.
The NHS sees the benefits as it can once again recruit from around the world to fill short term gaps in skills, whilst investment in both training and equipment can now be afforded out of the money saved from not having to pay for our EU membership. Health tourism can now be tackled without interference from Brussels
Britain’s Universities are much in demand, with the brightest and best from around the globe now able to once again attend our seats of learning. With EU grants now no longer a part of the equation, the Universities set their own tuition fees for overseas students and then plough the profits back in to research, further enhancing the UK’s reputation at the forefront of cutting edge technology.
The UK regains its place as the No 3 in the world for medicinal research as the constraints put in place by the EU on clinical trials are repealed, leading to advances in the fight against cancer and other serious diseases.

Our streets become a safer place, too. With interference from The European Court of Human Rights removed, our Police can properly enforce the laws that are already on our statute book and start to crack down on terrorists and criminal gangs. Further legislation that was proposed during our membership, such as ‘The Snoopers Charter’, quickly becomes unnecessary and our basic rights as law abiding citizens under English Common Law are re-established. International crime gangs are tackled via a revitalised Interpol and people traffickers find it increasingly difficult to ply their evil trade.
The pessimists who pushed for us to stay in the EU are proven wrong as we maintain our place as the fifth largest economy on the planet, a member of the G7 and a permanent seat holder on the UN Security Council. Our continued membership of NATO is assured, with our Armed Forces able to be equipped and trained to defend UK interests rather than stretched to prop up a planned EU Army.
Britain is once again a free and sovereign country, with a bright future to look forward to.
Cliff Dixon
With thanks to Dan Hannan MEP for the original idea

Barroso throws Tory plans in the trash

Tory lies and spin laid to bare on the Marr show this morning 19/10/2014.
When will people wake up and realise that the government and opposition parties are pro EU and can not change anything so are happy to go against the will of the people rather than listen to the taxpaying voters.

They need to remember they work for us not the EU machine.

"Freedom of movement is a fundamental principle of the EU"

David Cameron can not negotiate an immigration cap. End of story.

Ukraine: A Sinister Method To The EU's Madness?

Ever since Nigel Farage's incendiary - and absolutely accurate - allegation during his LBC debate with Nick Clegg that the EU had blood on it's hands over Ukraine, we have had a predictable playground level of response suggesting that it shows that Farage - and by extension probably UKIP - supports Vladimir Putin's regime.

Granted, a few brave souls, most notably James Delingpole, has rallied to Farage's defence and pointed out the idiocy of the EU's actions in trying to bring Ukraine into it's orbit: after all, anyone who knew anything about Russian history and it's paranoia of encirclement would know how it would respond even in the most benign of circumstances, let alone when the country still feels wounded and humiliated after it's defeat in the Cold War.

However, a far more interesting question is: why the hell did the EU do it?

Those fews commentators who have bothered to look at the situation have concluded, perhaps correctly, that it is simply a mixture of vanity and arrogance. The EU's quasi-religious fervour towards the European ideal simply blinded it to the manifest dangers involved.

Another probably equally valid interpretation is the desperate need to keep forward momentum: with progress towards economic and monetary union currently stalled thanks to the grotesque consequences of the Euro, EU grandees may have reckoned that the need for progress in at least one area, enlargement, was paramount unless the whole project would start to slip into reverse. So blindly fanatical is the EU in support of it's goals that it would risk confrontation with Russia just to keep the ideal alive.

All perfectly plausible, but isn't there also a case that some kind of limited confrontation with Russia would suit the EU's purposes extremely well?

The fundamental flaw concerning the European project is, of course, the lack of a common European identity. In the immortal words of Enoch Powell: "Europe can never be a democracy because there is no European demos". 

Sooner or later the EU will have to address this fundamental flaw if the EU is to survive: somehow, we must all begin to think of ourselves as Europeans. A gradual introduction of European propaganda into schools and media may work, but only over the very long term. Instead, wouldn't it be easier to unite the people against a common enemy? It's a very old and successful trick, to be sure: Britain was cemented as a concept, for example, by it's constituent Protestant nations'  common fear of the continent's Roman Catholicism.

Here Russia fits the bill perfectly: it is geographically close, it's regime unquestionably sinister and it is just powerful enough to be seen as threatening but not powerful enough to make antagonising it not worth the candle. Moreover, there is still a widespread fear and hatred of Russia, particularly in the EU's eastern european member states, that stems from the memories of Soviet communism. 

Other potential enemies arguably don't work nearly so well. The far more real threat of militant Islam is simply too dangerous too confront, given the potential for sectarian conflagration that could result in scores of European cities. America is extremely powerful but a liberal democracy which no one seriously imagines has military designs on Europe. China is too geographically distant and is militarily still puny despite it's growing economic clout.

So a Russian bogeyman works best, but could it still really be the case that the EU would be so reckless, and so cynical, to deliberately poke the Russian bear with a stick? 

In life, it is generally best not to believe conspiracy theories, and to suggest that the EU's primary motive for it's idiotic Ukrainian policy was to resurrect the Russian bogeyman may well be going too far. Then again, the construction of the European Union has been a giant conspiracy against the people from the start. One cannot entirely rule out the idea that the EU did factor in the benefits, as well the risks, of provoking Russia into taking action against Ukraine, and moved accordingly.

Britain must obey Strasbourg judges or quit the EU, warns new chief of European Court of Human Rights

Once again the EU Technocrats are sticking their oar in.
In all reality it would be better for us to just give them the Churchill Salute and go our separate ways and negotiate a trade agreement.

But we all know the outcome, dithering Dave will bend over and take one up the proverbial for the country once again.
When will cast jelly Dave realise that the country will be better off out of this political union, while we are still in it he is leader in name only. More of a provincial governor than a PM of the once great country we live in.
If this gets drawn out any longer old Cast Ironic Dave and his bff's, Cleggy and Millipede,will be popping over to Strasbourg and begging for forgiveness and promising more of British taxpayers money to pay fines etc.

Here is the story so far:

Britain must obey Strasbourg judges or quit the EU, warns new chief of European Court of Human Rights

Judge Dean Spielmann also says ministers should grant vote to prisoners

• Intervention puts unelected court on a collision course with Westminster

• MPs including Tory backbencher Dominic Raab 'won't give in to threats'

By JAMES SLACK and STEVE DOUGHTY

Britain was yesterday threatened with having to quit the European Union if it refuses to 'kowtow' to Strasbourg's human rights judges.The warning was delivered by the new head of the European Court of Human Rights, amid an increasing determination among Tory Cabinet ministers to leave its jurisdiction.Judge Dean Spielmann, from Luxemburg, also insisted that ministers had a duty to grant the vote to prisoners.
Threat: The warning was delivered by Judge Dean Spielmann, from Luxemburg, amid an increasing determination among Tory Cabinet ministers to leave its jurisdiction
His intervention once again puts the unelected court on a collision course with Westminster.Technically, the EU and the European Court of Human Rights are separate institutions, with the ECHR overseen by the 47-member Council of Europe.But Mr Spielmann opted to combine two of the most explosive issues in British politics by saying that, if we want to leave the court, we may also have to exit the EU.
His logic was that quitting the court would mean also exiting the Council of Europe. He added no state had ever been a member of the EU without first joining the council.Mr Spielmann said: 'That would plainly be a political disaster.'Any member state who would leave the Council of Europe, who would denounce the convention, would lose its credibility when it comes to promoting human rights also in different parts of the world.'Last night, MPs said they would not give in to threats - particularly where they involved Britain's membership of the EU.
Different: Technically, the EU and the European Court of Human Rights (pictured, in Strasbourg, France) are separate institutions, with the ECHR overseen by the 47-member Council of Europe
Tory backbencher Dominic Raab said: 'Mr Spielmann had no previous judicial experience before ascending to the heights of this European ivory tower, and it shows.'The only thing undermining the credibility of the Strasbourg court are the Mickey Mouse judgments it spews out. He and the other judges should take a long hard look in the mirror before complaining about British democracy.''If Mr Spielmann thinks threatening to kick us out of the EU is going to persuade anyone in Britain to kowtow to the perverse rulings of the Strasbourg court, he's got another thing coming'Dominic Raab, Tory backbencher He added: 'If Mr Spielmann thinks threatening to kick us out of the EU is going to persuade anyone in Britain to kowtow to the perverse rulings of the Strasbourg court, he's got another thing coming.'Home Secretary Theresa May has said the UK should consider its relationship with the European court after a string of adverse judgments.These include blocking the deportation of Al Qaeda hate-preacher Abu Qatada and the long-running battle over whether convicts must be allowed to vote.Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, has also discussed walking away from the court. This would allow the final say to rest with Britain's better qualified Supreme Court.Judge Spielmann told BBC Radio Four that all decisions reached by his court must be respected - including prisoner votes.
Suggestion: Home Secretary Theresa May has said the UK should consider its relationship with the European court after a string of adverse judgments
This is despite the fact that the democratically-elected Westminster parliament has voted overwhelmingly to keep the ban in place.He claimed: 'A decision of a court must be executed. If a decision is not executed this is a violation of the rule of law which is a basic principle of any democracy'.Quoting a long-standing argument of the human rights lobby, he said there was a risk that such an attitude would set a bad example to other member states. He added: 'They might say "Well if the UK doesn't comply with our judgments, why should we comply?"'A decision of a court must be executed. If a decision is not executed this is a violation of the rule of law which is a basic principle of any democracy'Judge Dean Spielmann'Such an attitude causes real damage to the UK's international reputation, because it undermines the whole system and it causes great damage to the credibility of the UK when it comes to promoting human rights in other parts of the world.The European court has 47 members, many of whom have no prior judicial experience.The court's 'one country, one judge' rule means Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco and Andorra each have a seat despite their combined populations being smaller than that of the London borough of Islington.A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'We are clear in the view that prisoner voting is a matter for national parliaments to decide.'We will continue to push for further meaningful reform of the European Court of Human Rights when negotiations start later in the year.'

Thoughts of a Young Independence member: Immigration

After watching the latest episode of BBC Question Time, I really get a feeling of how Ukip foreign policy is still seen by many people: as something very Nationalistic, and possibly leaning towards xenophobia. It's very saddening, particularly because Ukip is the most global party of the lot - seeing prosperity beyond the regulation fuelled shackles of the EU. Admittedly foreign policy is still quite elusive. There is also a sense that Ukip does not appreciate the melting-pot granted by immigrant populations settling in Britain over the past decades; and this sense is false. I want to differentiate between integrated immigrants and incoming immigrants; as well as assemble some picture of foreign policy, or to the least how I see it.

Yes - Britain is a melting-pot, and that's obviously wonderful as the diversity instilled has really driven our economy forwards, especially in terms of small business which our county has always naturally thrived out of; but mass open door immigration, which brings forth unskilled labour, just increases exploitation. And then there are those who don't work and seep out of the benefit system, as well as getting involved with a lot of criminal activity. Basically, if we left the EU we can get some co-operated skilled immigration from English speaking counties, whose people can integrate. How can we embrace such immigration? It's simple; they've been right under our noses all along. The people of the Commonwealth.

Coincidentally, it has been part of Kippers’ tales for a while now for Britain to negotiate free trade agreements with - our true allies - the Commonwealth under a Ukip government, and perhaps we should go further to establish a military alliance; frankly because it's the best way to uphold a global network which defends against redoubling cascades of threats emerging from the world, and Britain cannot afford to keep it up alone in an epoch of slow growth. That also goes for Britain's - the Commonwealth's - investment in the sciences, and there's nothing wrong with saying we want to be a leading science power once again: it's not looking back because we're a miserable bunch; it's common sense. In the meantime, the EU is an utter fiasco - and Britain must start the process of dismantling it by leaving; and pushing the rest of Europe into a far more flexible, freer agreement in an organisation like the European Free Trade Association, where global countries like Switzerland have cherished for their success.

Moreover, what we have seen in migration descending from EU membership and, bluntly, open door immigration in all aspects, are pockets of societies expanding and drifting apart from Society's mainstream course; and consequently we have seen a rocket in crime, extremism and, (gasp!) artificial Labour tribalism in post-Blair immigrant communities. However, when we look at our previous immigration waves, Commonwealth immigration waves in particular, you see something much more stunning: you see a great deal of respect and concern for the nation, therefore why talks should be held with credible representatives of the Commonwealth community, internally and externally, on how to establish an immigration agreement which makes ambitious skilled newcomers excited, as well as the indigenous population. But it would principally be controlled.

As I write, Lord Ashcroft publishes his ‘open letter’ to Nigel Farage on the Daily Mail, which fundamentally regards Ukip supporters “[knowing] the world is more complicated – a vote for UKIP is a vote against the complication.” This is part of the current wave of smearing leading to the local elections of 2013 where Ukip can feasibly win big; but is only true in the aspect of unfolding the glories of the past – not retreating to the past, where our economy has no chance. The party’s admiration of Thatcher only goes as far as admiring her strength in troubled times, but to attempt to regenerate Thatcherism only demolishes our claim that there is no street Ukip can’t build momentum on; mutatis mutandis Ukip attempts to unify a country previously divided by ideology. And the signs are it's succeeding. Besides, Ashcroft's studies show that a large chuck of the party's supporters are in fact traditional Conservative voters; so this further conveys how out of touch the old establishment are, and the best is wished for Ukip's success in every election.

Virgin Money snaps up Northern Rock on second attempt at huge discount

I've written about Northern Rock quite a few times since they were brought down by Saint Robert of Peston in 2007 and looking back at what I wrote and what others said is quite interesting.

When Saint Robert of Peston whipped up a frenzy of consumer panic with his misleading reports on Northern Rock's request for an emergency credit line from the Bank of England (misrepresenting it as a loan rather than the offer of a loan if they needed it) he caused a run on the bank which deprived it of its working capital. The inevitable happened of course and the Northern Rock ran out of cash and was nationalised.

Northern Rock has now been sold to Virgin Money at a minimum loss of £400m but possibly as much as £653m on the amount the UK Treasury spent nationalising the bank.  Those of you who have taken an interest in the Northern Rock affair and with good memories for these things might be getting a touch of déja vu at the mention of Virgin Money and Northern Rock in the same sentence because Richard Branson tried to take over Northern Rock before it was nationalised and on much better terms for UK plc than what has just been agreed less than a fortnight after Saint Robert of Peston embarked on his career-making hatchet job on the bank.

The original Virgin Money offer was to buy Northern Rock's entire operation, pay back £11bn of the £25bn Bank of England emergency loan that Northern Rock was forced to take immediately with the balance to be paid within 3 years.  The UK Treasury hadn't spent any money nationalising the bank so the taxpayer's exposure to Northern Rock would have been repaid within 3 years, Northern Rock's operations would have remained intact, Northern Rock's investors would have had a chance of getting a return on some of their investments and the ripples that Northern Rock's collapse and nationalisation sent through the banking sector could have been avoided.  The UK Treasury instead chose to nationalist the bank, costing the taxpayer billions and contributing to the virtual collapse of the UK banking sector.

Whilst I hold Saint Robert of Peston significantly responsible for the collapse of Northern Rock, some of the blame has to fall on the EU because Saint Robert wouldn't have found out about the credit line if it wasn't for the EU Monetary Abuse Directive (MAD) that required the Bank of England to publicise the fact that it had been offered.  The previous governor of the Bank of England, Eddie George, said at the time that if he was still governor when the EU MAD was brought in he would have resigned over it.

Ed the Millibeast has had a pop at George Osbourne about him selling the Northern Rock off at such a loss for no apparent reason but it turns out that he had no choice because the last Chancellor, Alistair McDarling, had to agree to sell off Northern Rock within 3 years to get permission from the EU to nationalise the bank.  And which government department did Ed the Millibeast work in at the time of the Northern Rock nationalisation?  Erm, that would be the Treasury - he was a minister in the Treasury when his boss agreed to the 3 year restriction on the nationalisation!

Richard Branson's purchase of Northern Rock is only for the "good bank" - the "bad bank" was merged with Bradford & Bingley which was also nationalised.  The "bad bank" is still slowly paying back the billions of pounds it owes the taxpayer.  What happened to the Bank of England loan is anyone's guess.  Northern Rock has cost the taxpayer a lot of money - a lot more than necessary so far and the Virgin Money takeover will cost hundreds of millions more.  The mismanagement of the economy and the banking crisis is nothing short of criminal.

The whole Northern Rock saga started with gross incompetence and unnecessary wasting of taxpayers money and it's perhaps a fitting end for the Northern Rock brand that it will finish with a loss-making sale to the bank that tried to buy it before it cost the taxpayer billions of pounds and precipitated the near collapse of the banking sector and at a snip of the price offered in 2007.

Come the revolution there will be a special part of the wall marked out for Saint Robert of Peston, Alistair Darling and all the other criminally incompetent and irresponsible idiots that have cost us so dearly.

Cross-posted from: Wonko's World

EU Referendum Campaign's Casts Another Blow to Cameron's EU Budget Celebrations

The EU Referendum Campaign, has commissioned a poll conducted by ComRes to find out the British publics' views on the monetary contribution made by the United Kingdom to the European Union. The results, cast a devastating blow to David Cameron who is still attempting to play the narrative of a historic win over the EU budget.

In a poll where 1000 members of the public where asked questions found that:

• 59% of people asked believed that it was not right that Britain should be making a contribution of £48million per day to the EU. (33% who were imbeciles believed it was right that Britain makes this contribution, keep an eye on this figure..)
• 74% of people asked believed that the money would be better spent relieving the impact of the Government's spending cuts
• Only 23% of people believed that Britain gets value for money in its membership of the European Union (notice how 33% drops to 23%)
• 68% of people believed that Britain should ask for an immediate reduction in its contribution of the EU budget

This poll shows that the overwhelming majority of the British public do not believe David Cameron when he describes his EU budget negotiation deal as a success.

In light of these poll results James Pryor, the Chief Executive of the EU Referendum Campaign, said:

This poll confirms the ever-increasing disconnect between the political elite and the real people of Britain

with Jon Gaunt, Chief Spokesperson for the campaign adding:

It's not crystal clear that the majority of British people want the £48 million we send every day to Brussels to be spent here in Britain on vital services. How will Britain feel when an EXTRA £450 million is sent to Brussels next year? Surely David Cameron cannot ignore the will of the British people... it's time he gave us OUR say on the EU.

It is becoming increasing clear that the people of Britain need to stand together and demand a referendum on the EU. To show your support visit the official EU Referendum Campaign website by clicking here.

EU QUACKS POSE THREAT TO UK HERBAL MEDICINE INDUSTRY

The EU has prescribed a bitter pill which could deliver a fatal blow to the UK’s herbal medicine industry says UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass.

West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass is backing calls made by HRH The Prince of Wales for the Government to implement the regulation of herbalists.

The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health charity claims without regulation an EU directive banning herbalists and practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine from using manufactured or pre-prepared herbal medicines could abandon herbal medicine patients to ‘quackery’.

The charity, which was founded by the Prince of Wales in 1993, has expressed fears that, without regulation and the implementation of the EU Directive in 2011, herbal medicine patients may be tempted to obtain their medicines from backstreet traders.

Under the EU Directive only statutory registered professionals like doctors would be able to prescribe manufactured or pre-prepared herbal medicines.

Mr Nattrass has welcomed the charity’s statements and also a statement by the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (EHTPA) that without Government regulation of the industry the directive would force many herbalists to close down.

He said: “I fully back the comments made by the Prince’s charity and the statements made by the EHTPA. The herbal medicine industry could be plunged into crisis by this directive which is due to be implemented in 2011.
“It could lead to herbal medicine patients seeking remedies from backstreet traders or via junk websites.

“This EU directive could have very serious consequences and like all UKIP MEPs I am completely opposed to this interference from the European Union.

“We should regulate our own healthcare services and not be dictated to by Brussels.

“This whole issue is deeply concerning and UKIP has warned of this for the past seven years. We should make our own laws and policies in Westminster,” he added.

Trust: earned, not learned

Cameron's probably undergoing an excruciating learning process - one where trust is earned, not learned.

Benedict Brogan posts a cogent analysis on why we must demand a referendum on the EU.

One would hope that politicians have learned that semantic games backfire.

Why can they not simply be straight with us?

The answer is obvious. They have too much to hide. They serve more than one master and when the inevitable conflict of interest arises, they have no choice but to fudge or lie.

They become emboldened with each lie/fudge that pays off, but eventually, the electorate cottons on and an almighty boil builds.

Sensible, integrity-steeped politicians will recognise the building boil and will seek to lance it. These wonderful souls (Dan Hannan) are, of course, ignored.

Until they resign and thence, lance the boil.

Then, the very subjects which the politicos wished to avoid discussing, become the very subjects which the electorate most want discussed.

Who wins?

Knowing that they have lost the argument on the big issues that concern the electorate, they try to buy us off with concessions on minor issues.  Avoid 'difficult' issues at all costs.

And so, debate is denied, lying becomes entrenched.

My mother warned that the danger of a lie is that one had to be able to recall ones previous lies to be credible. The real danger of lying is that the web of lies that invariably ensues, entraps us and forces us to face that which we sought to avoid - magnified. 

Integrity is in vogue, but our politicos appear to be the only people in the nation who don't know it.

Apart from UKIP, that is.

Cross-posted

SPY CAMERAS A DRIVE THE WRONG WAY

Mike Nattrass MEP speakss out against the EU plans for black boxes in cars.

The MEP, who is a member of the European Union’s Transport and Tourism Committee, says plans by the EU for black box recorders to be installed in cars, are just a partial excuse to build an EU satellite system and will infringe people’s rights to privacy in their own vehicles.

He said: "This is a very expensive justification for the EU's mega million euro Galilao satellite system which is designed to compete with the free American GPS system.

"The EU will not use the American free system because the real objective of the EU system is precision bombing and GPS could be switched off by the Americans. So the EU team is thinking up alternative uses for Galilao! Road tolling will be next."

A £2.4 million study commissioned by the EU, which is known as Project Veronica, recommends the mandatory installation of the boxes in all cars to record 20 types of data including vehicle speed and recent vehicle movements.
But, Mr Nattrass says the boxes will be used as a tool or surveillance and will therefore affect people’s privacy.
Privacy International is also critical of the proposals and claims such as device would act as an ‘infallible surveillance system’.

Mr Nattrass added: “Of course safety on our roads is of paramount importance but these black boxes would be nothing more than a tool to spy on vehicle movements.

“This is another example of EU interfering bureaucrats and their quest to change the UK. Recently they vetoed Britain’s wishes and allowed 60 ton foreign ‘mega lorries’ to roll onto our roads.

“Now they want drivers on our roads to be spied on. We should be making our own laws in Westminster and not be dictated to by the EU.

“It is time to say No to the EU and pull out of the European Union and UKIP is the only party committed to achieving that goal,” he added.

The plain truth is confirmed

In statements released this morning, the British Foreign Secretary David Miliband admitted several truths. Firstly, and most shockingly, he admitted that British membership of the socialist political union known as the EU, is not a matter for the British people to decide. His confession is final confirmation, as if it were needed, that the European socialist elite have formulated an agenda for deeper and deeper integration, and that this position in not negotiable in any way. The sovereignty of the people of member states is to be ignored and eroded, and at some point confined to the slag heap of history. In true Borg fashion, Miliband warns us that resistance is “futile” – rhetoric which is both a barely-concealed threat, and provides vindication for anti-EU campaigners who have been saying for decades that this is the case. With this confession, and this certain knowledge, the British people are now faced with a simple choice – fight to maintain their sovereignty by voting for and supporting UKIP (the only one of the ‘Big Four’ parties committed to withdrawal from the EU) or holding out their hands to the socialist elite of Brussels and asking to be fettered. It pains me to remind people that the purpose of government is to protect the individual rights of people and serve their interests. It is not the role of people to serve the government. This is their last chance to understand that fact.

DUMBING DOWN TV FOR THE EU

UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass believes the European Union has paved the way for dumbed down television programming which will put profit before content.

The West Midlands MEP has today attacked plans to allow product placement on some of Britain’s most popular shows.

In 2007, a European Union directive came into force which permits product placement for commercial purposes in certain programming if national governments allowed it.

Now, it appears the British Government is considering the move which could see regulars in the Rovers Return swapping a pint of Newton & Ridley (fictional tipple used in the soap Coronation Street) for a drink of Carlsberg or John Smith’s.

Implementing the directive could allow the British TV reality programme X-Factor to follow the example of American Idol and product place glasses of Coca Cola on the set and open the floodgates for independent broadcasters to advertise on a massive scale.

Mr Nattrass says British television has always been at the forefront of innovation and has a reputation around the world for delivering high quality programming.

But allowing product placement could tarnish this reputation and lead to television audiences in the UK being bombarded by adverts and plugs for products and famous brands.

“Now the quality of the nation’s television could be undermined thanks to the interfering EU,” said Mr Nattrass.

“Britain is famous for producing high-quality dramas, comedy and entertainment programmes which are also popular with television audiences around the world.

“I understand that struggling independent broadcasters need to raise revenue. The cost of this however, should not be profit-making programming more with an eye on flogging brands of washing powder than plot and content.

“Again this is yet another example of the EU poking its nose in where it does not belong. It is time to say NO to the EU and manage our own affairs.

"If the British people require this (product placement on TV) then it should be obtained via our own Parliament. It should not be dictated to us by the EU hiding behind the simple word ‘directive.’

“It is all too easy, no wonder more than 70 per cent of our law now comes from the EU,” he added.

SPIRALING COST OF EU MEMBERSHIP A DISGRACE

UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass says it is clear Britain should stop being the victim of the EU rip off after new figures revealed the spiralling cost of EU membership.

The UK’s net contribution to the EU is set to soar from £4.1bn in 2009/10 to £6.4bn next year at a time when Britain is in a deep economic recession and pensioners fear they could be means tested to see of they qualify for a free bus pass.

Mr Nattrass says the figures show more and more money is being given by Britain to the EU which continues to pour our hard earned cash down the drain and these are not the full figures anyway.

The true cost in taking on the burden of EU legislation and controls is estimated at close to £150 bln per year.

“It is time Britain said NO to the EU and no to having our money being wasted by the EU,” said Mr Nattrass.

“Our net contribution will rise at a time when people fear losing their homes, jobs and businesses. The money would be better spent on our hospitals, schools and helping the economy to recover.

“EU membership is costing us dearly and when 70 per cent of our laws are being made by a parliament where Britain has little say you can see that you have lost your country.

“Our decisions should be made in Westminster and not in Brussels. The UKIP objective is for Britain to leave the EU and for laws to be made by British people for British people,” he added.

EU HORSING AROUND AGAIN

UKIP West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass says Britain should not be saddled by new unnecessary EU rules banning horse owners from eating their nags.

The MEP said the ludicrous legislation is just the latest in a mounting number of barmy rules to be imposed on Britain by the European Union which is galloping away with the UK's sovereignty, keeping MEPs round the trough and treating voters like donkeys unable to Say Nay.

Aimed at continental Europe the Horse Identification Regulations, which come into force next month, mean that horse owners will have to sign a pledge not to eat their own animals or they will be dropped into the manure with up to two years in prison.

Mr Nattrass, who is a keen defender of animal rights, said "It is time to rein in the power of the EU and harness our right to stable government, by sending the EU to the knackers yard ”

“The EU should keep its nose bag out of our affairs, it is blinkered, knows nothing of our traditions and trots out endless ridiculous rules.

“You could make yourself hoarse opposing all this, show jumpers with certainly take a fence. Hay we should have a straw poll of horse owners.” he added.

Nigel Farage UKIP Leader said on TV "I would like to be a fly on the wall when they ask The Queen and Princess Anne to sign."

Mike finally added "We will get out of this daft and expensive EU but I dare not say 'Otherwise I'll eat my hat' otherwise they'll bring in a regulation stopping that!"

New pub smoking room petition launched on Number 10 Downing Street website

West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass and fellow representatives of UKIP have placed a petition on the Number 10 Downing Street website calling for designated smoking rooms to be reintroduced in British pubs.

Mr Nattrass is spearheading a concerted campaign for separate, ventilated and unstaffed smoking rooms to be allowed in public houses and a petition has now been placed on the Downing Street website to intensify the campaign further.

The UKIP MEP, who is a non-smoker himself, is writing to every pub in the West Midlands about his campaign and is also urging people to add their names to a petition at ukipwm@yahoo.com calling for smoking rooms in pubs. Now people are being encouraged to support efforts for time to be finally called on the smoking rooms ban by adding their names to a petition on the Number 10 Downing Street website.

The petition can be found at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Smoke-rooms/ “The smoking ban really has hit the pub industry very hard,” said Mr Nattrass.

“Publicans should have the freedom to decide their own smoking policies and not be told what to do by the European Union.”The smoking ban followed the EU’s Council recommendation 2003/54 calling on all EU member states to “implement legislation providing suitable protection from the effects of passive smoking at working places.”
Mr Nattrass continued: “The smoking ban has been an unmitigated disaster. Many pubs have had to shut up and down the country – in turn resulting in the loss of jobs.

“It is scandalous. Pubs are so important to local communities. All I am calling for is common sense. There should be unstaffed, separate and ventilated smoking rooms in British pubs.“Support my petition and campaign and help put the pub industry back on its feet.”

People can add their weight to the campaign by writing to Pub Smoking Room Petition, PO Box 33333, Birmingham, B6 9AE. All those emailing or writing in support of the campaign MUST include their names, full address and reasons for why they are supporting the campaign.

While UKIP does not like prohibitions and bans in general, UKIP does recognise that the smoking ban has been popular among certain groups, such as families and those wishing to eat out in pubs. However, UKIP believes that a more common sense solution is needed.

UKIP states the smoking ban should be amended to allow pub landlords - freehold, tenanted/leased and managed - and club managers to provide contained and ventilated 'smoking rooms' within pubs and clubs, where customers desire it.

UKIP London campaign launch with Stuart Wheeler and Gerard Batten MEP Friday !

On Friday April 24th at 10am, UKIP London launches its campaign to the BBC and other TV & press media outside the Houses of Parliament with former Tory donor Stuart Wheeler fresh from his speech at the UKIP Spring Conference (see video). The charge will be lead by Gerard Batten MEP who has been representing London in the European Parliament for the last 5 years, fighting EU moves on increasing EU membership to more Eastern European countries, Turkey and the further immigration problems this will cause.

Also present will be Lawrence Webb, London Regional Organiser and MEP Candidate, Paul Wiffen, London Chairman and Call Centre Manager, Strachan MacDonald, MEP Candidate and Sunita Webb, MEP Candidate. The London campaign vehicle, a UKIP-liveried London Taxi (following on from last year's Routemaster Bus and Gerard's mayoral video which featured him in a cab) will be there as well as an example of the billboards which just went up all around the country.

UKIP: Stuart Wheeler's speech at the UKIP Spring Rally

Here is the text of Stuart Wheeler's (the spread betting millionaire thrown out of the Conservative Party for donating to UKIP) speech to the UKIP Spring Rally. Today in the Great Hall at Exeter University. Photos are available from PA. Mr. Wheeler was given a standing ovation as he came on to speak and again as he finished.

I suspect there are many here today just like me – Conservative at heart but feeling let down over Europe. I know I am not alone in this awkward position; when I decided to donate money to UKIP, many people got in touch and expressed their support for my actions – and almost all of them were die hard Tories.

And what was the straw that broke the camel's back – that turned us from our natural party? Two words: Ken and Clarke. But it is two words of another Tory politician that I want to examine this morning: William and Hague.

Last Saturday, the Daily Telegraph carried an interview with William Hague.Nothing, nothing could have illustrated better why I shall vote UKIP in the Euro-elections. There was in his interview no commitment to anything.

Let's look at it. If there is a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty will Ken Clarke vote against it? William Hague says that he expects, expects, mark you, that he will. What kind of language is that? Why doesn't William Hague know how Clarke will vote? Did he and David Cameron not ask him that simple question before they appointed him to the shadow cabinet?


Ken Clarke himself was quite specific on the subject as a backbencher “Calls for a referendum were absurd”. Take another point. The Conservatives should make it absolutely clear that, if elected, they will immediately call a referendum on Lisbon. But what do we find?

William Hague indicates that the Conservatives are likely to attempt to scrap the Treaty – possibly by calling a retrospective referendum. Heavens above! The Pope has indicated that he is likely to possibly be a Catholic!

The Tories want to sound tough without making the slightest commitment. The leadership is terrified that a tough stance will split the party. But who will be on the Europhile side of the split?

Just two big beasts, Clarke and Heseltine, and one or two smaller beasts. The party has shown quite rightly that it is not afraid of big donors, by expelling me. It should not be afraid of big beasts either.

By the way it is only the leadership that is so timid. A back bencher Tory MP came up to me and begged me to go on doing what I was doing. “80% of our MPs are behind you”, he said.

The polls are perfectly clear about the voters as well. They were recently asked by the pollsters, YouGov, which of ten things they would most like to see done. Top – reduce immigration: second – reduce the powers of the EU and increase the powers of Britain's Parliament. Way down below – reduce taxes, deal with climate change, scrap id cards etc...

Just listen to the voters, David and William, they do care about Europe, a lot. People have asked me, since my donation, why I did not stay within the Conservative party and use, as they put it, my influence. At one time I did have some sort of influence. I might almost say I was subject to a charm offensive Would I like to have lunch with shadow minister X?

Would I pop in for a discussion with shadow minister Y? Would I like to see William Hague to discuss Europe? The reason of course was to make me unlikely to say something awkward for the Conservatives or, god forbid, to support UKIP. I cannot resist one final point about William Hague's interview. He asks for a protest vote in the Euro elections. Well, which party would a protest vote be for?

Obviously not the party easily leading in the polls, the Tories – that could not be a protest vote. It can only mean voting UKIP! I look forward to him joining me in expulsion from the Party!

Thank You !

London MEP Candidate Lawrence Webb joins Axe The Beer Tax protest at Westminster

March 8th saw Parliament Square full of 6ft pints and some very bemused Tamil protesters who are under the impression that Gordon Brown can do something about a civil war in Sri Lanka (clearly they have fallen for his leader of the world impression).

However Gordon Brown and Alastair Darling can do something about the crisis in the pub trade in this country and the 33% of the price of a pint which goes straight to HM Treasury. Instead of raising the price of beer & cider still further and stopping anyone going to the pub (now that they have persecuted smokers into staying away).

UKIP fully support the Axe The Beer Tax campaign and Nigel Farage will be speaking on this subject on Channel 4's Political Slot at 19.55pm on Thursday 9th April. Lawrence Webb, London Regional Organiser and one of London's MEP candidates, was down at Parliament Square to lend his voice to the protesters.

www.savethepub.co.uk

Lend UKIP Votes, Tories