Monday, 26th September 2011
Desmond Swayne, Conservative MP for New Forest West, has informed a constituent that he is "living in a world of illusion" if he believes this government can accelerate the UK's exit from the EU.
The comments came in an exchange of e-mails between local businessman David Pitman and his MP last week.
Mr Pitman, who is a member of UKIP, was staggered to receive the response which clearly admits that the Conservative Party see the issue of Europe and the EU as one of the areas that they can do little about whilst in coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
The reply is particularly interesting as Mr Swayne is also Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Prime Minister David Cameron, having also been Cameron's PPS during his time as Leader of Opposition between 2005 & 2010.
At a time when eurosceptism is at an all time high in the Conservative Party, such comments will do little to show the growing mass of euroscpetic Tory backbenchers that the heart of Downing Street is serious about EU-reform during this parliament. It also reopens the debate about how much control the Liberal Democrats have in the coalition.
Nigel Farage, UKIP Leader, said: "There are thousands of people who voted for Desmond Swayne in the New Forest believing that to do so was the best chance of a referendum on the EU. They remembered Cameron's cast iron promise to hold one and foolishly believed that the Conservatives wanted to deliver.
"Now Cameron's own private secretary describes those thousands as living in a 'world of illusion'.
"One might admire his new found honesty and I agree with him. It is truth that trust in his Government's ability or desire to change our relationship with Europe is delusional. It always was and I think it always will be."
Mr Pitman, who is a member of UKIP, was staggered to receive the response which clearly admits that the Conservative Party see the issue of Europe and the EU as one of the areas that they can do little about whilst in coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
The reply is particularly interesting as Mr Swayne is also Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Prime Minister David Cameron, having also been Cameron's PPS during his time as Leader of Opposition between 2005 & 2010.
At a time when eurosceptism is at an all time high in the Conservative Party, such comments will do little to show the growing mass of euroscpetic Tory backbenchers that the heart of Downing Street is serious about EU-reform during this parliament. It also reopens the debate about how much control the Liberal Democrats have in the coalition.
Nigel Farage, UKIP Leader, said: "There are thousands of people who voted for Desmond Swayne in the New Forest believing that to do so was the best chance of a referendum on the EU. They remembered Cameron's cast iron promise to hold one and foolishly believed that the Conservatives wanted to deliver.
"Now Cameron's own private secretary describes those thousands as living in a 'world of illusion'.
"One might admire his new found honesty and I agree with him. It is truth that trust in his Government's ability or desire to change our relationship with Europe is delusional. It always was and I think it always will be."
Here are David Pitman's email to the PM and to Desmond Swayne
Dear Desmond,
I wrote the attached text below and sent it to the email address that is advertised by your boss.
I got a reply: this email is suspended! ... which seems typical of the man and the party. Full of cheap promotional words and no action.
The email address is advertised at:http://www.davidcameron.com/search/label/contact%20David%20Cameron
As the words are important to me and my business, I thought you should see them and pass my comments on to your boss if you feel that they are of any value.
David Pitman wrote:
Dear David (Cameron)
1. PENSIONS and MORE PAPERWORK FOR SMALL BUSINESS
My small but successful business is now having to spend a lot of time organising the offer of a pension to staff - who don't want it, based on what they have seen happen to pensions in past few years. Also we are led to believe that we will have to pay a contribution in a few year's time. Hence we may REDUCE staff to save having to deal with this. You spout off words about reducing paperwork to small businesses without having any idea of what small businesses have to put up with!
2. OBSCENITIES FROM STRASBOURG
This week saw the return of the European Parliament to Strasbourg after the summer break. To make up for missing a month in August the EU parliament will be meeting twice in September. Next year, this may not happen, as MEPs recently voted to have just 11 sessions in 2012. The French government is challenging this in the courts. The arrival of the traveling circus in Strasbourg each month is accompanied by skyrocketing hotel charges and a massive demand for casual workers in the service sector. The French of course are keen to continue with this boost to their economy, but in these times of austerity, someone should question the morality of using taxpayer's money in this way. - WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Calculating the expense of all this is difficult, as many costs are hidden. Documents and equipment are transported from Brussels in convoys of lorries, and thousands of staff, all on generous expenses, make their way to STRASBOURG. There are special trains and charter flights laid on. I understand that the joke is that canceling the Strasbourg sessions would enable the EU to meet its carbon emissions reduction targets at a stroke! HOW CAN YOU LET THIS HAPPEN? If this was a business you would sack the lot of them!
3. VOTING ON THE EU
I refer to the Telegraph Poll.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/8772588/Tory-MPs-demand-referendum-on-Europe.html
Why have you not allowed the UK to vote on the EU situation as you PROMISED to do? At a recent local New Forest Public Conservative MP meeting there were just 10 people attending, 6 were local party workers.
At a local UKIP meeting the hall was packed to capacity, probably 150 people. It was clear to almost all there that YOU and your party had broken your promises. Most wished to have trade links with Europe but not political links. Your coalition partners are destined to disaster at the next election over their broken promises. You should not underestimate the tide of feeling that is growing against the stupidity and greed of the EU machine.
David Pitman
I wrote the attached text below and sent it to the email address that is advertised by your boss.
I got a reply: this email is suspended! ... which seems typical of the man and the party. Full of cheap promotional words and no action.
The email address is advertised at:http://www.davidcameron.com/search/label/contact%20David%20Cameron
As the words are important to me and my business, I thought you should see them and pass my comments on to your boss if you feel that they are of any value.
David Pitman wrote:
Dear David (Cameron)
1. PENSIONS and MORE PAPERWORK FOR SMALL BUSINESS
My small but successful business is now having to spend a lot of time organising the offer of a pension to staff - who don't want it, based on what they have seen happen to pensions in past few years. Also we are led to believe that we will have to pay a contribution in a few year's time. Hence we may REDUCE staff to save having to deal with this. You spout off words about reducing paperwork to small businesses without having any idea of what small businesses have to put up with!
2. OBSCENITIES FROM STRASBOURG
This week saw the return of the European Parliament to Strasbourg after the summer break. To make up for missing a month in August the EU parliament will be meeting twice in September. Next year, this may not happen, as MEPs recently voted to have just 11 sessions in 2012. The French government is challenging this in the courts. The arrival of the traveling circus in Strasbourg each month is accompanied by skyrocketing hotel charges and a massive demand for casual workers in the service sector. The French of course are keen to continue with this boost to their economy, but in these times of austerity, someone should question the morality of using taxpayer's money in this way. - WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Calculating the expense of all this is difficult, as many costs are hidden. Documents and equipment are transported from Brussels in convoys of lorries, and thousands of staff, all on generous expenses, make their way to STRASBOURG. There are special trains and charter flights laid on. I understand that the joke is that canceling the Strasbourg sessions would enable the EU to meet its carbon emissions reduction targets at a stroke! HOW CAN YOU LET THIS HAPPEN? If this was a business you would sack the lot of them!
3. VOTING ON THE EU
I refer to the Telegraph Poll.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/8772588/Tory-MPs-demand-referendum-on-Europe.html
Why have you not allowed the UK to vote on the EU situation as you PROMISED to do? At a recent local New Forest Public Conservative MP meeting there were just 10 people attending, 6 were local party workers.
At a local UKIP meeting the hall was packed to capacity, probably 150 people. It was clear to almost all there that YOU and your party had broken your promises. Most wished to have trade links with Europe but not political links. Your coalition partners are destined to disaster at the next election over their broken promises. You should not underestimate the tide of feeling that is growing against the stupidity and greed of the EU machine.
David Pitman
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