Out and About with Vicky Ford MEP

I've made no secret of the fact that if there was a referendum tomorrow, I would vote to quit the EU.

However I much prefer the idea of trying to renegotiate to make the EU work for Britain before I decide to vote for such a momentous step. This is a complicated affair.

So I was delighted to see Vicky Ford MEP this morning and campaign with her in Stoke Park.
Vicky is always a pleasure to knock on doors with. Her positivity and energy is evident for all to see and she is patient at the door, happy to listen to their concerns and explain what the Conservatives are doing

We have a strong, united team in Brussels that ensures the best for Britain and they have already cut the EU budget, vetoed a fiscal treaty and kept us out of the Eurozone bailout.

We also have a long term plan to make sure immigration to Britain is controlled and manageable but we know we need to make changes in Europe if the people of Britain are to vote to remain in.

The referendum is a simple In or Out vote - and so we must give ourselves choices.

Below is the plan for change that only the Conservatives can deliver - UKIP want out without thinking of the consequences or the exit strategy, Labour are not going to give you a choice, or exit, Liberals have definitely nailed their EU colours to the mast.

That leaves us - which means YOU decide:

The Unexpected - Snippets from the Week

First and foremost are the most important and poignant news from the week.

So shocked was I to hear of the sad death of Bob Crow that I was left open mouthed while I was driving. I loathed what he stood for but there was something to admire about this loud, brash, outspoken and passionate man.

I like people who say what they think, mean what they say and refuse to conform to what other people think should be the demeanour of someone in public life. I reckon he was great fun, warm, cuddly and will be sorely missed by many people.

Also sad, but not so shocking, is the passing of the great Tony Benn. Now, he was someone, not in my party, who I had time for. Another outspoken but eloquent man, who managed to sustain an air of graciousness throughout his career. I will leave others to write great tributes for him as i am not knowledgeable enough but my gut instinct was to like and admire him. The boy did good.


Now onto a real tragedy - the missing aeroplane that was travelling to China and appears to have been lost. I am truly surprised that with all our technology, this could still be baffling the experts a week after it took off. I've always had this sense that we could track anybody anywhere if we put enough resource but it appears that there are still improvements to be made. Of course, there is no blame here for the lack of information and by all accounts huge effort is being made to find these poor souls. I'm thinking of their relatives every day and hope they have an answer within the next few hours, not days or weeks. It is pain beyond our comprehension to be left in limbo.

Onto more happy notes, I believe we have 4 medals in the winter Paralympics. What an inspiration these athletes are! I am in awe of their bravery, courage, talent, dedication and physical strength, in the face of adversity. What fantastic human beings - an inspiration to us all. Well done so far, Team GB!

Interesting snippet from LGA and reported in the papers this week
MigrationWatch claims that research by UCL's Centre for Research overstated the likely tax revenues from migrants. It alleges that migrants have instead cost the Exchequer more than £140bn - or £22m a day - from 1995 to 2011. It's UK chief, Sir Andrew Green said: "This finally disposes of the immigration lobby's oft-repeated claims that immigration reduces our tax burden.”  Very interesting and in line with my own belief.

At a more local level - I have been spending time on casework that has meant my business has had only 10 hours of my time this week. But the unexpected was that I achieved more in that 10 hours than I would normally do in 20 because I was pushed for time. You know what they say, if you want something done, ask a busy person!

The barmiest compensation claims in recent times
Local authority solicitors are calling on the Government to pay for costly treatment and compensation for a child born with foetal alcohol syndrome after its mother drank excessively while pregnant. ??
Meanwhile a woman who was attacked by a seagull during her lunch break is suing the owner of the building where she worked for £30,000 in damages. Cathie Kelly said she stumbled and injured herself on the steps of the building as she tried to escape the "screaming" bird during her lunch break. ????

Of GREAT Importance:-



I thought Ed was barmy making that announcement - Thanks!

Have a great weekend all and lets see what next week brings.....

The Step by Step Guide to Leaving Europe - by David Bannerman MEP

Previous posts on my blog have seen me post comments on Europe myths and truths as expressed by Bannerman MEP in his book The Ultimate Plan B.

I met David a couple of years ago when he presented this discussion, in Ipswich, and also chatted more to him when I gave him a lift to Ipswich station. He is a credible, intelligent guy and had been speaking to us about the virtues of leaving Europe, which by definition will mean him losing his job! He was party chairman for UKIP for 7 years before returning to the conservatives in 2011 (he had previously served for 20 years with the Conservatives including as a special advisor on the Northern Ireland peace process)

Now if I'm going to fall down any side of an argument, when I am still undecided, it will be down the same side as those who are willing to speak the truth, even if it cuts off their own nose to spite their face. David is on the inside and knows a lot more then most people in this country or in Westminster.

David sent me an up to date version of his book recently and so I wanted to expand my posts to complement the previous ones and to share what he says about the practicalities of leaving, should we decide to in the referendum.

I will update my previous posts but in the meantime, I would like to summarise his chapter 3 - Why leaving is Easy.

I have spent many years undecided about Europe, going backwards and forwards depending on whose points of view I was listening to. It is not a decision to take lightly but I have finally made up my mind, mainly through an intuitive reason built on all the pieces of information I have gathered (& also some forgotten on a conscious level)over the years.. I am willing to see what David Cameron can do in Europe to allow us to take back our power and introduce caps on  immigration of European members, because it's only fair and honest that we should all have as many choices as possible in the debate leading up to the referendum. However if I am not happy with their concessions, I will be voting OUT.

So here are the steps:

1) The government to announce an immediate halt to implementation of new EU directives or enforcing new EU Regulations. Open negotiations for a UK/EU Free Trade Agreement with the EU and start the drafting of an ECA Repeal Bill

2) Repeal Bill introduced and passed by both houses to become the Repeal Act.
Continue to honour certain regional grants and other payments until the Special Independence Budget is announced. A draft EU/UK Free Trade Agreement would be produced and Deregulation committees established

3) The Trade Agreement would be presented for approval to UK Parliament and ratified. Withdraw representatives from the European Parliament and all financial contributions ceased.
Once free of EU, measures to be introduced to reassert control.

4) Establish key areas of co-operation in the new Trade Agreement with EU such as sea navigation, telecommunications, air safety, respect for property, intellectual rights, transition time-scales.
Following public consultation, the Deregulation committees would present ongoing legislation to Parliament which allows time for UK citizens to plan for the changes and this would be supported by Transition committees in each govt department. Funds normally dedicated to EU membership could be re-allocated to individuals and companies to aid the transition.

and I quote fully the last paragraph:
'Once this procedure is complete, Britain will have restored full sovereignty and total control over British laws to the British people and their representatives in Westminster. Moreover, the relationship with the EU would now be mutually beneficial as it will be based on friendly trade, not political control by remote, unaccountable EU bureaucracy.

Next time I will update previous posts and share with you some of teh EU regulation burden that we will be free of, if when we leave.