UKIP.org - LORD HESKETH DITCHES TORIES FOR UKIP

Monday, 10th October 2011

A former Treasurer of the Conservative Party has joined UKIP following David Cameron's decision to rule out a referendum on whether Britain should stay in the EU.

Lord Alexander Hesketh is the most senior Conservative Party politician to date to join UKIP.

He had held a number of positions within the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State - Department of Environment (1989-1990) and Minister of State - Department of Trade and Industry (1990-1991).

In May 1991 he was appointed Chief Whip in the House of Lords by John Major, a position he held for nearly two-and-a-half years.

He was Treasurer of the Conservative Party between 2003 and 2004. Between 2003 and 2010 he was Chairman of the Conservative Party Foundation. 

Outside of politics, Lord Hesketh has a love of motor racing and in 1972 launched Hesketh Racing which saw success in Formula One between 1973 and 1978 with British racing driver James Hunt. He also founded Hesketh Motorcycles which set up a purpose built factory in Daventry in 1982 to build the Hesketh V1000 motorcycles. In 1994 Lord Hesketh helped set up British Mediterranean Airways (BMED) and served as Executive Chairman of the new airline. In 2007, BMED was purchased by BMI.

Lord Hesketh is the owner and executive chairman of Towcester racecourse. He also serves as an independent director of Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan. 

In November 2010 he resigned from his position as Deputy Chairman at engineering group Babcock International after saying that the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier programme was "about to turn into a classic British disaster". Babcock is building the carriers at its shipyard in Rosyth.

Lord Hesketh was reported as saying a quicker and cheaper solution would have been to adapt the RAF's current fleet of Typhoon aircraft for work at sea, but he claimed this was less lucrative for BAE.

He had held the position of Deputy Chairman for fourteen years, before which he was a non-executive for three years.  
Lord Hesketh will be launching a fundraising club for UKIP and will be acting as a spokesman on matters of defence procurement.

Lord Hesketh said: "I have been a Conservative all my adult life but the recent decision by the Prime Minister to rule out a referendum on EU membership has angered me greatly. On this, and many other matters, UKIP's views chime with mine and I am delighted to join the party which is fast becoming a real force in British politics."

Nigel Farage, UKIP Leader, said: "Lord Hesketh brings a wealth of political experience to UKIP and he is warmly welcomed to the party.

"Over the last few months a number of former Conservatives have joined UKIP as they have become disillusioned with the Conservative Party. Lord Hesketh felt let down by David Cameron when he recently ruled out a referendum and he is not alone.

"The Prime Minister is not only letting down his party, but millions of people across the UK who just want to have their say on future EU membership. On matters of defence, Lord Hesketh's expertise and knowledge is second to none and he will be a valuable addition to our policy team." 

Daily Express - JOHN MAJOR’S EU CRISIS HOPE

Sir John Major said Britain may be able to snatch back ­powers from Europe

Monday October 10,2011

By Daily Express reporter

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BRITAIN could use the eurozone crisis as an opportunity to snatch back ­powers from Europe, Sir John Major said yesterday.

The former PM said that any new treaty drawn in its wake would allow the UK to ­renegotiate its relationship with Brussels – particularly on employment issues.

He claimed that it was likely that Europe was heading towards a “federal state within the eurozone” as leaders try to find a resolution for the debt crisis.

Sir John said: “It gives us an opportunity to negotiate for the looser form of Europe that I would have liked to have seen in the 1990s.”

Last night French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met for crunch talks in Berlin. Mr Sarkozy said the two countries will present ­proposals for the eurozone by the end of the month. He said: “We are very ­conscious that France and Germany have a particular responsibility for stabilising the euro.”

Well that's commendable Sir John, but perhaps it would have been better if you hadn't ratified the Maastricht Treaty when you were in power, then we wouldn't be in this mess!

From Wikipedia

On becoming Prime Minister Major had promised to keep Britain "at the very heart of Europe", and claimed to have won "game, set and match for Britain" – by negotiating the social chapter and single currency opt-outs from the Maastricht Treaty, and by ensuring that there was no overt mention of a "Federal" Europe and that foreign and defence policy were kept as matters of inter-governmental cooperation, in separate "pillars" from the supranational European Union. By 2010 some of these concessions, but not Britain's non-membership of the Single Currency, had been overtaken by subsequent events.

However, even these moves towards greater European integration met with vehement opposition from the Eurosceptic wing of the party and the Cabinet as the Government attempted to ratify the Maastricht Treaty in the first half of 1993. Although the Labour opposition supported the treaty, they were prepared to tactically oppose certain provisions in order to weaken the government. This opposition included passing an amendment that required a vote on the social chapter aspects of the treaty before it could be ratified. Several Conservative MPs, known as the Maastricht Rebels, voted against the treaty, and the Government was defeated. Major called another vote on the following day, 23 July 1993, which he declared a vote of confidence. He won by 40 votes, but the damage had been done to his authority in parliament.

Daily Express - NOW EURO KILLJOYS BAN CHILDREN’S PARTY TOYS

Party blowers are categorised as unsafe for under-14s under new rules

Monday October 10,2011

By Martyn Brown

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MEDDLING EU bureaucrats sparked outrage yesterday for imposing a farcical new diktat which bans children from using toys.

The Brussels directive will limit the noise in babies’ rattles – and stop under-eights from blowing up balloons.

Traditional toys, including party squeakers, magnetic fishing games and toy lipsticks, will be banned because they do not conform to safety regulations.

Critics say enforcement is the latest onslaught of EU meddling to hit the UK.

And it will add weight to the Daily Express crusade calling for a referendum on EU membership.

Measures in the directive, which have just come into force, mean toys children have enjoyed for generations pose a safety risk.

Party blowers, which unravel when blown and a favourite in party bags, are categorised as unsafe for under-14s under new rules governing toys that children put in their mouths.

Party blowers are categorised as unsafe for under-14s under new rules

Bits of the blower could come off and cause choking, say EU officials, who will not allow them on sale unless they pass stringent safety tests. Some children’s musical instruments, like toy whistles and recorders, will also be banned because they may come apart and could be swallowed. Rules on magnets in toys will mean some traditional toys, such as fishing games, and wooden cranes with magnets, may no longer be deemed safe. The move follows cases of children swallowing small magnets.

There are also limits on how noisy toys should be, including babies rattles. From now on teddies and soft toys for children under three have to be washable.

Although Britain broadly supported the directive, government sources said they resisted provisions which will drive up prices.

Did I mention how easy the EU makes writing this blog, I don't think I need to even comment as it's so blatantly obsurd!

edp24.co.uk - Euro-MP and Norfolk farmer’s fury at battery egg imports

By MICHAEL POLLITT, Agricultural Editor 

Saturday, October 8, 2011
11:08 AM

 

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Euro MP and Norfolk farmer Stuart Agnew has launched a campaign to ensure that only free-range eggs are sold in Britain from January.

He is furious that Europe will not ban sales of eggs from battery cages when Britain’s farmers have invested £400m to comply with tough new welfare rules.

Mr Agnew, who is UKIP’s spokesman on agriculture and also has 30,000 free-range laying hens near Fakenham, said that Europe has failed to enforce the battery cage ban in about five member states.

“I have had no choice but to launch this campaign after hearing at this late stage from the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, John Dalli, that the Commission itself is not going to rigorously enforce the ban, but merely send inspectors and threaten member states with fines.”

“British egg producers have invested over £400 million to meet the terms of the ban but many other EU countries haven’t bothered.

“To protect British egg producers and consumers from illegally produced eggs, I am stepping up pressure on supermarkets to ensure that they will not be sourcing battery produced eggs after January 1,” said Mr Agnew.

Five member states - Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Spain and Greece – have made no effort to comply with the battery cage ban.

“I am also making sure that they are aware of the potential problem of illegal eggs coming into the country and/or being used in food products they are selling to British consumers,” said Mr Agnew, who is a former chairman of Norfolk National Farmers’ Union.

“Fortunately, some consumers are waking up to the problem and, to date I have had nearly 400 emails on this one subject,” he added.

“This ban has been coming for 13 years and I am disgusted that the Commission has done so little to enforce it and, worse still, is prepared to stand idly by and allow British egg producers to effectively be penalised for complying with the (laying hens) directive.”

Mr Agnew has also written to the head offices of 22 supermarkets urging them to support British egg producers and protect consumers by only supplying legally produced eggs and food products that do not contain battery eggs.

Email - www.stuartagnewmep.co.uk

politicshome.com - May 'took cat story from Farage'

May 'took cat story from Farage'

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has accused Theresa May of stealing from him her story about an immigrant being allowed to remain in the UK because of his pet cat. Mr Farage told the same story - with almost identical phrasing - to an audience of UKIP members back in July.

Daily Express -NEWSNIGHT FARCE: EUROCRAT STORMS OFF LIVE TV AFTER PAXMAN CALLS HIM AN IDIOT

Thursday September 29 2011 by Geoff Marsh for Express.co.uk

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AN EU Commission spokesman stormed off Newsnight last night after being called an 'idiot' FIVE times, including once by presenter Jeremy Paxman.

Amadeu Altafaj-Tardio was desperately trying to defend the EU's handling of the sovereign debt crisis on the BBC's flagship news programme, insisting the Euro could survive. 

But furious British newspaper columnist Peter Oborne said Mr Altafaj-Tardiowho - who works for the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs - was in 'denial' about Greek debt. 

He then referred to him dismissively as 'that idiot in Brussels'. 

Peter Oborne lays into 'the idiot in Brussels' on Newsnight

Far from castigating Oborne for his remarks, Paxman then himself turned to Mr Altafaj-Tardio and asked 'Mr Idiot in Brussels' if he'd care to respond. 

Mr Altafaj-Tardio remained on the show for several minutes, but eventually walked off in disgust after again repeatedly being called an idiot by Mr Oborne. 

After the Eurocrat left, Paxman criticised the Tory supporter, telling him: "He's now walking out of the studio in Brussels. Well done. 

"We can't even hold him to account now because you've been gratuitously offensive to him."

Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman even asked 'the idiot in Brussels' to respond

But, laughing, Mr Oborne responded: "Good.

"Listening to this man speak such nonsense over a matter of such importance, over an issue that affects the lives of millions and millions of people, is offensive.

"It's offensive to decent people who want jobs." 

Following the broadcast, the BBC's website was inundated with viewers supporting Mr Oborne's rant. 

"Finally, someone tells it like it is. Peter Obourne is a legend," posted one. 

Another, brossen99, found the whole thing highly amusing.

He said: "Thanks Newsnight. I've not laughed so much in ages, especially when Paxo used the I word." 

But not everyone was so sympathetic.

One regular poster, 'David', said: "Peter Oborne is a disgrace and shouldn't be on Newsnight again. 

"I have heard teenagers make more coherent arguments without being so gratuitously offensive.

"I didn't for one minute agree with the European politician but I don't blame him for walking out."

Mr Oborne, a former Express writer, also clashed with Sir Richard Lambert - a former editor of the Financial Times and member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee - on the programme.

Jeremy Paxman clashes with Peter Oborne on Newsnight

He pleaded: "Do we have to go on with this rubbish Jeremy?" when Mr Oborne threw a copy of his anti-European leaflet, The Guilty Men, in his direction. 

Patrick O'Flynn, the Chief Political Commentator of the Daily Express, said: "It was great TV." 

Daily Express - £7BN RISE FOR GREEDY EUROCRATS

£7BN RISE FOR GREEDY EUROCRATS

EU foreign affairs supremo Baroness Ashton will reap a large increase for her department

Thursday October 6,2011

By Martyn Brown, Political Correspondent

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MONEY-grabbing Brussels bureaucrats brought fresh insult to hard-pressed British taxpayers yesterday by awarding themselves an inflation-busting 4.9 per cent rise in the EU’s annual budget.

Despite austerity cuts across Europe, and the Eurozone crisis, the European Parliament’s budget commission voted for an extra £7billion to take its total budget for 2012 to £114billion.

EU foreign affairs supremo Baroness Ashton will reap a large increase for her department if the draft budget is rubber-stamped this month. It will mean bumper pay rises for thousands of Eurocrats in Brussels and Strasbourg.

The move triggered fresh anger at the Brussels gravy train and renewed calls for the UK to quit the EU.

The rise would raise the UK’s annual EU contribution to nearly £10billion a year, equivalent to more than £400 for every household in the country.

It heaps further pressure on PM David Cameron to stand up to Brussels. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, yesterday claimed that the Government had brought the EU budget “under control”.

The move triggered fresh anger at the Brussels gravy train and renewed calls for the UK to quit the EU.

But Ukip MEP Marta Andreasen, who voted against any rise, said: “Mr Hague’s comments are patently untrue.

“Far from being under control, MEPs voted for a rise equating to some £300million that will come from UK taxpayers’ already-hit pockets.”