Mike Nattrass resigns from UKIP

West Midlands MEP, Mike Nattrass, has resigned from UKIP after failing to get reselected for next year's EU elections.

In an email to party chairman, Steve Crowther, he describes UKIP as totalitarian and compares Nigel Farage to Robert Mugabe.  He also repeats his previous claim that party rules have been broken despite the things he says are against the rules being part of the changes to the party constitution that were approved by the membership some time ago.

It's a shame Mike has chosen to resign from the party for failing the MEP selection process rather than going into the selection process for a Westminster seat which he was almost certain to have been successful in but he's been in self destruct mode since he found out he was unsuccessful.

Mike Nattrass loses MEP de-selection case

Mike Nattrass MEP has lost his case against UKIP over his de-selection as an MEP.

Mike was due to retire in 2012 to give his replacement an opportunity to build up their profile with the electorate before the next election but changed his mind.  He subsequently put himself forward for re-selection this year but was turned down.  He says he was turned down unfairly, the judge said "politics isn't fair" and ordered him to pay £9,000 in costs.

The reason why Mike was de-selected hasn't been made public - not even to him - but is likely to be a result of his siding with Nikki Sinclaire when she was in open warfare with the party and for some time after she parted company with UKIP.

The crux of his legal complaint seems to be that the process was unfair.  In emails he and his supporters have sent to members he's cited the lack of a psychometric test for sitting MEPs as a reason why the process is unfair.  But not requiring sitting MEPs to undergo a psychometric test presumes that they've passed so that removes a barrier rather than adding one.  He also says that he wants the membership to decide who should stand and that's what the rules say but the rules were changed some time ago to give the NEC more control over the lists and the membership voted for those new rules.

When the regional lists were released I was surprised to find that Mike's name was missing but it was always a possibility given his recent history with the party which marred many years of hard work and dedication to the party and the eurosceptic cause.  I just can't see where the rules were broken or where Mike or any of the other MEPs were treated unfairly though.

Perhaps now the court case is finished the party's side of the story will be made public so members can take a balanced view on whether Mike was treated fairly.

Mike Nattrass MEP rejoins EFD group

UKIP MEP for the West Midlands, Mike Nattrass, has rejoined the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group in the EU Parliament, hopefully bringing an end to the slightly strained relationship between Mike and the party that started with Nikki Sinclaire's war against Nigel Farage and UKIP.

Mike got caught up in Saint Nikki of Meriden's war against Nigel Farage's leadership and like many people was taken in by her dishonest and underhand tactics.  In return for his support she set up a rival, single issue party to challenge UKIP at EU elections behind his back.

When Saint Nikki loses her seat at the next EU election her spoiler party will collapse through lack of funding and with a bit of luck she'll disappear into obscurity.  Mike's performance at the UKIP conference in Birmingham this year was excellent and rejoining the EFD group hopefully draws a line under the whole affair.

What now for Mike Nattrass?

Back in March, Nikki Sinclaire resigned from the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) Group in the EU Parliament.  She had the whip withdrawn and now sits as an Independent MEP.

In June, her fellow West Midlands MEP, Mike Nattrass followed her lead and resigned from the EFD Group.  He hasn't had the whip withdrawn though.

Now, the circumstances are slightly different, I admit.  Nikki was undermining the party from the inside, fighting a propaganda war using several members as proxies and her staff were using members' details to register new user accounts on the UKIP members forum to cause trouble.

Mike, on the other hand, has refrained from outright warfare with the party but is that reason enough to allow him to keep the whip?  If rumours of an impending court case from Nikki are true - and I am frankly amazed that she hasn't already tried to sue the party - then this inconsistent treatment is bound to be one of her main arguments for whatever it is she thinks she's going to achieve.

Mike Nattrass MEP public meetings

PUBLIC MEETINGS all at 7.30 pm unless otherwise stated.

Please pass to anyone who may wish to attend.

MIKE NATTRASS MEP speaking with local candidates.

21st April. RUGBY with Barry Milford, BLACK HORSE, BILTON, RUGBY.

22nd STONE with Andrew Illsley. STONE HOUSE HOTEL, STONE ST15 0BQ

23rd COVENTRY with Mark Taylor.2pm school meeting, not public. BABELAKE SCHOOL, COVENTRY.

23rd BIRMINGHAM. with Richardsons Developments. Ticket only. "St. Georges Day Leaders Dinner."

24th HALESOWEN. 1.30pm St. Geoges Day Parade (By invitation of the Council..... not speaking?)

26th CODSALL. Village Hall.

27th CANNOCK. 12noon (not public meeting) CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Ramada Hotel.

27th PERTON. Civic Hall.

28th DUDLEY. with Malcolm Davis. The Old Park Public House, Russell Hall Estate.DY1 2LJ

29th KIDDERMINSTER. with Michael Wrench. Franche Primary School. DY11 5QB

30th RADIO WM 12.30.

30th STOKE with Carol Lovatt. The White Star.

1st May NETHERTON with Phil Rowe The Crown Public House.

3rd STOURBRIDGE with Maddy. The Fox Public House.

4th BIRMINGHAM. 10am (not public but school) Q3 Acadamy B43 7SD

4th CHESLYN HAY. Colliers Arms Public House.

5th WALSALL with Derek Bennett and Liz Hazell. and ALL NEARBY GENERAL AND LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTION CANDIDATES. Beechdale Lifelong Learning Centre. WS2 7DY

ALL AT 7.30pm UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. 0121 333 7737 FOR ANY MORE INFORMATION.

Mike Nattrass MEP cleared by OLAF

Mike Nattrass MEP has been cleared unequivocally by the European Empire's fraud investigation unit (other peoples' fraud of course, not their own) after a spurious accusation was made against him.

Please note that the EU OLAF enquiry against me is over and I have been totally cleared.

OLAF (EU fraud office) found difficulty in understanding why a complaint had been made and actually refused more information from me, showing that I had followed the EU rules with care, because they already had enough.

It is very easy for anyone to start an OLAF enquiry in order to report "There is an enquiry" to undermine an MEP or to produce internet hate mail.

Many OLAF enquiries are started as a diversion. In my case derailing my UKIP Leadership Election chances was the target.

The allegations made by the Sunday Times implicated Nattrass Giles my former firm. Shouting "fraud" has damaged that business, to the degree that their bank refused them credit, having read the newspaper! In my case it caused an investigation from my professional body The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

There was no fraud whatsoever. Nattrass Giles, gave their services to me within the EU rules, without any fee from the EU allowances to which they were entitled. I want to thank them, apologise for the financial damage to their status and hope they recover.

I am taking legal action against the Sunday Times, as this is the second time they have written lies about me at a time when I was trying to gather UKIP support.

The firm of Nattrass Giles is also taking action against The Sunday Times.

Mike

MIKE NATTRASS MEP

MEP Question Time in the West Midlands

MEP QUESTION TIME

Meet Mike Nattrass your Local UKIP MEP and Maddy Westrop 

Friday, March 5th @ 7.30pm 

Amblecote Room, 

Stourbridge Town Hall, 

Crown Centre, 

Stourbridge 

DY8 1YE 

Or for more details telephone 

0121 333 7737

All are welcome to attend and ask questions. No charge.

Mike Nattrass MEP public meetings

Mike Nattrass MEP has a public meeting each evening next week and with the local PPC in each case. Everyone is welcome to attend. There may be local issues to address.

If you would like to attend or tell others please do.

Mike will explain about the power of the EU and why he is an MEP but these meetings depend on questions. Previous ones have gone well.... he hopes these meetings educate a few constituents about the policies of UKIP MEPs or perhaps they will educate him! Especially in relation to local issues.

The locations are listed below. Plus a premature mention of the Stourbridge meeting in March.

Monday, February 1st @ 7:30pm at Edgecliff High School, Enville Rd, Kinver DY7 6AA
Tuesday, February 2nd @ 7:30pm at St. Mary’s Church Hall, Gorge Rd, Sedgley WV14 9RH
Wednesday, February 3rd @ 7:30pm at The Lodge, Wellington Rd, Dudley DY1 1RD
Thursday, February 4th @ 7:30pm at The Kingfisher Club, Kidderminster Rd, Wall Heath DY6 0EN
Friday, February 5th COSELEY : To Be Confirmed Please call : 0121 333 7737
Friday, March 5th @ 7:30pm at Amblecote Room, Stourbridge Town Hall, Crown Centre DY8 1YE

Sunday Sport: UKIP Bus in South Pole

SPECULATION is rife that a missing campaign bus belonging to the UK Independence Party has been dumped in the SOUTH POLE.

The double decker battle bus, which was used to rally support,went AWOL in July and hasn’t been seen since.

Mike Nattrass, UKIP MEP for the West Midlands, contacted us for help in finding the 1997 Leyland Atlantean A111 HLV, which once served Merseyside’s public transport links.

And we’re asking YOU, our loyal army of readers, to help us track down the vanished vehicle.

Mike, 63, believes that thieves may have hidden the bus in the Antarctic –– just like in one of Sunday Sport’s most iconic exclusives.

He said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned up in the South Pole –– just like that bus you guys found there in the 1980s.”

Mike thinks aliens may have snatched the bus, just like what happened last time.

In February, 1989, we shocked the world and scooped the opposition when we broke the story of a bus found buried at the South Pole.

And we’ve mocked up this incredible picture to show what the UKIP bus may look like there –– and a few other places it could be.

Mike added: “I don’t know who to blame –– our political enemies, a gang of international bus thieves or ALIENS.

“Those crafty spacemen would certainly have the neccessary technology to transport our bus to the Antartic.

“I’m asking Sunday Sport readers to please keep their eyes peeled for our double decker and let your news desk know if they spot it.”

Hmmm.  Now, I could be wrong but I suspect the UKIP battle bus probably isn't at the south pole!

Edit:
Apologies for spoiling the pictures of the two young ladies but this is a reputable website.  The originals are available on request if you'd rather look at two pairs of boobs rather than the pair of tits they've been censored with.

UKIP Telford & Wrekin Christmas Party

UKIP Telford & Wrekin had their Christmas party on Monday (my first Christmas party of the year).

The party was, naturally, organised by the formidable Jill Seymour and among the guests were Mike Nattrass MEP, Nikki Sinclair MEP and a number of PPCs, including Telford & Wrekin PPCs Councillor Denis Allen and Malcolm Hurst and Solihull PPC John Ison.

Telford & Wrekin's veteran activist, Councillor Ray Knight, was presented with a medal for outstanding service to the party by Mike Nattrass and Nikki Sinclaire.

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.

Tories fail British people over Lisbon Treaty

Mike Nattrass, one of the two UKIP MEPs for the West Midlands, has issued the following press release:

Tories fail British people over Lisbon Treaty

UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass says Tory leader David Cameron has failed the British people after withdrawing his ‘cast iron’ commitment to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

The UKIP West Midlands MEP says Mr Cameron’s u-turn shows the Tories are committed to the European Union and the signing away of our country.

“It is clear from the Tories’ u-turn that the party is in disarray over Europe and their decision over the referendum shows the vast majority of its MPs and MEPs are euro federalists,” said Mr Nattrass.

“Mr Cameron has also spoken about a UK sovereignty bill. This is meaningless spin as the UK is bound by acquis communautaire, which includes treaties, regulations and directives passed by the EU and also laws of the European Court of Justice. The Lisbon Treaty is therefore, ‘self amending’ and the UK will have no further say.

“The Tories have conned the British people. UKIP is the only party exposing the EU and is committed to withdrawing Britain from the European Union.

“Laws should be made in Westminster and not in Brussels. It is time to say No to the EU and pull out of the European Union,” he added.

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.

MIKE NATTRASS MEP TO THE RESCUE OF WALSALL MARKET

UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass with Walsall market trader, Karen Sands.

The future of Walsall’s historic outdoor market has been secured following intense campaigning from traders and UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass.

Walsall Council’s Development Control Committee has approved plans to move the market from the Digbeth area of the town to The Bridge much to the delight of stallholders.

In June, Walsall Council scrapped proposals to part privatise the market following backlash from shoppers and traders and a campaign spearheaded by Mr Nattrass for the plan to be ditched.

This week, traders have expressed their relief and joy that the move to the prime site on The Bridge has been approved.

The market will be situated initially on The Bridge for a year and the success of the move will be assessed by the council when the twelve-month period comes to an end.

Karen Sands, from Walsall Market Traders Association, said: “We are absolutely ecstatic that the move has at long last been approved.
“It will secure the future of Walsall Market and I know it will help boost trade in the town.

“It is a win win situation and the move has been four years in the making. I would like to thank shoppers, councillors and Mike Nattrass for their support.
“We have safeguarded the market for the people of Walsall. This is great news for the market and the town,” she added.

Leadership Candidates & Hustings confirmed

The leadership race is officially open with five confirmed candidates:

• Gerard Batten MEP
• Lord Pearson of Rannoch
• Mike Nattrass MEP
• Nikki Sinclaire MEP
• Alan Wood

Hustings meetings have been arranged for party members as follows:

• Saturday 31st October, 2pm, Lyne Village Hall, Lyne, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 0AN.
• Monday 2nd November, 7.30pm, Counting House, 50 Cornhill, Bank, London, EC3V 3PD.
• Wednesday 4th November, 7.30pm, The Best Mate Room, Exeter Racecourse, Haldon Hill, Kennford, Exeter, EX6 7XS.
• Tuesday 10th November, 7pm, Tower College, Mill Lane, Prescot, Merseyside, L35 6NE.
• Friday 13th November, 7.30pm, The Great Barr Hotel, Pear Tree Drive, (off the) Newton Road, Great Barr, Birmingham, B43 6HS.

Any member is entitled to attend one or more of the hustings provided you present a valid, up-to-date UKIP membership card.

So who will Bloggers4UKIP be backing? The short answer: nobody. The long answer: members of the Bloggers4UKIP team are close to and/or personally backing different candidates so, in the interests of maintaining harmony, I have made an editorial decision that there will be no promotion of any of the candidates.

All of the candidates are, of course, welcome to keep us updated with their leadership campaign.

Britain (sorry UKIP) fighting to steer clear of EU mega trucks plan

Interfering Brussels’ bureaucrats could ride roughshod over Britain’s wishes and allow 60-ton foreign ‘mega lorries’ to roll onto UK roads.

UKIP West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass, who is a member of the Transport and Tourism Committee at the European Parliament, has condemned plans by the EU which would allow huge lorries from the continent to use Britain’s roads. Mr Nattrass has this week joined the UK freight industry in expressing dismay at EU moves to push the 25.5 metre behemoths onto our roads despite the British Government banning them last year. “Once again the EU is doing what it does best – interfere,” he said.

“I am totally opposed to these giant vehicles being allowed on our roads. Britain has already said no to these vehicles in the past but the EU is ignoring our wishes again and is trying to plough on with their plans regardless. “The mega trucks would be fifty per cent longer than existing lorries and would be substantially heavier which would be more damaging to our road surfaces.

"Can you imagine the private M6 toll road, over which the Government appears to have lost control, welcoming these? "We should get trucks off the roads and use rail containers. This EU ruling is a major incentive to send freight in the wrong direction, the correct direction being by rail.

“The EU wants these so-called super lorries but Britain does not. Again we should all say a resounding NO to the EU, pull out of the European Union and make our own laws and policies in Westminster,” he added. In a press statement issued this week, Freight on Rail, (which is a partnership of freight operators Rail Freight Group, Network Rail, transport trade unions and Campaign for Better Transport), expressed their complete opposition to the mega lorries.

Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail Manager, said: “Large quantities of long distance freight can be more sustainably and more safely carried by rail, than in even larger lorries. “The reality is that, even though the UK Government voted against trials of mega trucks in June 2008, if Europe gives the go-ahead for cross border mega trucks traffic between member states, they will come to the UK by default, over time.

“The commissions’ own sponsored research showed that mega trucks are individually more dangerous than standard HGVs.” Freight on Rail added increases in lorry dimensions has resulted in more lorries driving around less full causing more road congestion and more pollution.

Mike Nattrass: The do it again referendum is binding on us ... why?

The following press release has been issued by Mike Nattrass MEP today:

THE DO IT AGAIN REFERENDUM is BINDING ON US...WHY?

Ireland has given a decisive victory for the bully boys, big money and bureaucrats.

The Irish have been terrified by the prospect that a No vote will cost jobs in the downturn" said Mike Nattrass MEP for UKIP West Midlands.

"The conduct of this referendum was a travesty of democracy from start to finish. A wall of taxpayers money has ben spent by the 'Yes' side and the state broadcaster changed its political impartiality rules for the campaign.

It is not acceptable", he said "that three million Irish votes can determine the future of our country, our democracy and our constitution.

The impact has not been explained to the British people. They do not realise that we cannot now leave the EU without the other states agreeing?

There should, of course, be a UK referendum. Will David Cameron deliver? The answer is "NO" because the party is euro federalist and the way the MEPs vote proves this point.

MIKE NATTRASS MEP

UKIP WEST MIDLANDS

Mystery, intrigue and rumour - a day in the life of UKIP!

Earlier today a report was leaked on the UKIP members' forum that MEPs had been discussing a proposal to create a pan-EU eurosceptic party.

This naturally met with some pretty robust opposition. UKIP contests EU elections to get funding, oppose stupid directives, take the piss out of the eurofederalists in their own parliament and to get information that we wouldn't normally get. The general consensus is that creating a pan-EU party like Libertas would be a step too far, too much like joining the establishment.

The story goes that at the MEPs meeting this was suggested, they were told that up to £900k in funding was available from the European Empire and that all MEPs present bar 2 were in favour.

Once I'd got off my soap box I decided to get some first hand information. First things first, I confirmed that the meeting had taken place and that this had been discussed by talking to a couple of MEPs. Satisfied that it had, indeed, happened I emailed all the MEPs asking for the meeting to be put in context:

Dear MEP,

As it has been confirmed that the possibility of UKIP joining or forming a pan-EU party was discussed at the the MEPs meeting, can you now please put this into context?

The reaction so far to the news that it was even discussed has been overwhelmingly negative and to leave the rumour mill running without a clear and unequivocal statement from the party is unhelpful.

Was this proposed to the party, either internally or by the EU, or was it simply exercising due dilligence? If it was proposed, from whom did this proposal come? Which MEPs supported the idea and which MEPs opposed it? Is it safe to assume that the promises to resign if it ever happens from many members on the UKIP members' forum is enough to ensure that this isn't going to be considered now or in the future? £900k (if that figure is correct) is a lot of money to a party our size but there won't be much to spend it on if we don't have any members.

Regards,

Stuart Parr

Bloggers4UKIP

I have so far had an email from Nigel Farage's office and one from Gerard Batten and phone calls from Nikki Sinclair, Mike Nattrass and Nigel Farage.

Nikki and Mike both said they were opposed to the idea of a pan-EU party although they differed on how serious a suggestion it was. Nigel, meanwhile, was quite enthusiastic about the idea and didn't understand what the opposition to it was about. So I explained what I understood the opinion of members to be based on my own feelings about it and what had been said on the UKIP members' forum.

Nigel is quite adamant this isn't a party but a grouping, an alliance. He said that UKIP would not change one bit, it would carry on as it does now but it would have another grouping in addition to the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group that UKIP leads. The difference between the EFD group and this new group would be that it would contain other eurosceptic parties that might not have any MEPs, enabling UKIP to lead a much larger group that can take a share of the £10m budget the European Empire has set aside for these groups. This would help to grow eurosceptic parties in other member states and hopefully produce a whole batch of eurosceptic MEPs that UKIP can align with if we still haven't got ourselves out of the EU by the time the next EU election comes along.

If this version of the story is correct then I think it's something to be welcomed. But that's assuming there isn't more to it and there is still some doubt amongst the membership as to whether there might be. The idea that 9 or 10 UKIP MEPs have gone native is pretty unbelievable to be honest and I find it very hard to believe that they would join the EU establishment.

But if the other version of the story is correct - that UKIP will be subsumed into an EU party - then that is totally unacceptable. Unlike the Tories, UKIP members won't accept their party embracing the European Empire and will reject it overwhelmingly when it's put to a ballot of the membership.

My gut feeling is that there has been a pretty fundamental misunderstanding over the nature of this suggested new grouping but I guess we will have to wait until after the NEC meeting on Monday, following which Farage has promised to release a statement setting out the party's position. Unless, that is, any of the other MEPs comes out with a startling revelation in the meantime.

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.

PATRICK CORMACK ACCUSED OF WHINING BY UKIP MEP

UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass has today branded South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack ‘a whiner’ for claiming being a Member of Parliament is an ‘extremely expensive business’.

Mr Nattrass, who last month announced he was to stand at the General Election as UKIP’s prospective parliamentary candidate in South Staffordshire, believes Sir Patrick Cormack has shot himself in the foot by claiming being an MP hits the wallet hard.

The UKIP MEP says the South Staffordshire MP’s comments shows the Tories are in complete disarray over the ongoing MPs expenses saga.

“Sir Patrick Cormack’s whines over MPs expenses must be compounding the Tories woes,” said Mr Nattrass.

“Following Alan Duncan’s (the Shadow Leader of the Commons) crass comment that MPs are forced to live ‘on rations’, Sir Patrick Cormack’s comments could not come at a worse time for the Tories who are a complete mess.

“At a time of deep economic recession when people are really suffering to hear MPs making such comments rubs salt into the wound.

“Either MPs do the job because they have a passion for their country or they should give up and let someone else have a shot.

“MPs should get on with the job of looking after the interests of their country and constituents as they should come first,” he added.