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		What's Old - Archived stories from the "What's New" section [  July - December 2009  |  January - June 2009  |  July - December 2008  |  January - June 2008  ] [  July - December 2007  |  January - June 2007  |  July - December 2006  |  January - June 2006  ] [  July - December 2005  |  January - June 2005  |  July - December 2004  |  January - June 2004  ] [  July - December 2003  |  January - June 2003  |  July - December 2002  |  April - June 2002  ] New EU threat to local bikers - Friday, 23rd June 2006 Motorcyclists in the East Midlands are threatened by new EU rules currently being considered in Brussels, one of the region’s MEPs heard today. According to FEMA, the European Motorcyclists' Federation, the rules proposed in an EU Directive will do nothing to improve the safety for existing motorcyclists. Letter to the Editor - The Economist - Wednesday, 21st June 2006 Richard Corbett MEP (letters, June 17th) takes issue with your leader of May 27th on the EU, and especially with your comment that EU integration is driven by an élite which is out of touch with public opinion. He argues that "no other political issue has been subject to so many referendums". Tory campaign forces police merger delay - Sunday, 18th June 2006 Conservatives across Northamptonshire were today celebrating as their campaign to Save Northants Police was successful in forcing a Labour government delay in their controversial plans to merge Northants police with neighbouring counties in favour of an East Midlands super force. EU shows “contempt for voters” - Wednesday, 14th June 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer has today slammed the continued attempts to revive the failed EU Constitution as ‘undemocratic’ and argued that they show only ‘contempt for voters’. Draft EU regulation poses threat to aircraft industry - Monday, 12th June 2006 Airbus SAS, one of the world's largest plane-makers and a major customer for Rolls Royce aircraft engines, says that the EU's new chemicals directive, (REACH), could have a significant impact on the European civil aircraft industry and possibly affect their ability to compete effectively in future. New Statesman award nomination - Wednesday, 7th June 2006 A grassroots internet campaign designed to get the European Conservative Party whip restored to local MEP Roger Helmer has been nominated for its second prestigious award. Following last month’s nomination for “Best National Campaign” in ConservativeHome.com’s Inaugural Conservative awards, The New Statesman, has announced the ‘Reinstate Roger Campaign’ would be nominated in their New Media Awards. “Keep flying the flag!” - Tuesday, 6th June 2006 Northamptonshire’s Conservative MEPs Roger Helmer and Chris Heaton-Harris have today given their full support to the Chronicle & Echo’s ‘Fly the Flag’ campaign and will be keeping a large flag flying in the European Parliament in Brussels. Welcome to Leicester! - Friday, 2nd June 2006 Last night Conservative MEP for Leicestershire Roger Helmer met the cast and crew of Verdi’s Rigoletto, staged by the Ukrainian National Opera of Odessa in collaboration with the Chisinau National Opera at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall. Local Sikhs lobby European Parliament - Thursday, 1st June 2006 A delegation of Sikhs from the East Midlands visited Brussels yesterday to lobby local MEPs. They met with Conservative MEPs Roger Helmer and Chris Heaton-Harris in a local restaurant, after parliament security staff had refused them while wearing their ceremonial daggers. Recruitment industry leaders voice concerns over EU regulation - Wednesday 24th May 2006 East Midlands' recruitment industry leaders recently met local MEP Roger Helmer to discuss proposed new EU regulations that could have a substantial impact on jobs in the East Midlands. Letter to the Editor - Leicester Mercury - Wednesday, 24th May 2006 Rob Revell (Mailbox, 24th May) asks where I propose that new nuclear power stations should be built. I propose to award him the NIMBY of the Year prize. Of course no one wants a nuclear power station next door, and they are best built in remote areas. Re-use of existing sites has been suggested. Letter to the Editor - Nottingham Evening Post - Tuesday, 23rd May 2006 John Gretton (letters, 19/5) plays the standard europhile's defensive stroke against accusations of fraud and corruption in the EU Commission: "We should blame the member states, not the Commission". Let's get a few facts straight here. When Marta Andreason was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the EU in 2002, she was the first qualified accountant to hold that post in the history of the EU. Letter to the Editor - The Times - Monday, 22nd May 2006 The EU insisted on an enhanced majority of 55% in the recent referendum on independence in Montenegro. Well done Brussels. It is clearly right in principle that a major constitutional change should have the full-hearted support of the people, and that this should be reflected in an enhanced majority. Letter to the Editor - Nottingham Evening Post - Monday, 22nd May 2006 The EU insisted on an enhanced majority of 55% in the recent referendum on independence in Montenegro. Well done Brussels. It is clearly right in principle that a major constitutional change should have the full-hearted support of the people, and that this should be reflected in an enhanced majority. Letter to the Editor - The Daily Telegraph - Monday, 22nd May 2006 There are those who say that honest folk have nothing to fear from ID cards. Tell that to the 1500 honest folk just given a false criminal record by the Home Office. Letter to the Editor - Nottingham Evening Post - Monday, 22nd May 2006 Aaron Thorpe (letters, 18/5) says "If we actually paid the true price in terms of environmental damage (on CO2 from fossil fuel generation) then wind would be by far the cheapest for all of us". He quotes no figures to support his claim. British beef is back! - Friday, 19th May 2006 Roger Helmer, Conservative MEP for the East Midlands, today celebrated the lifting of the export ban on British beef with a BBQ in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. It has been 10 long years since British beef has been allowed on the menu but Conservative MEPs today held the barbeque to showcase British beef. MEP joins Diamond Jubilee celebrations - Tuesday, 16th May 2006 Conservative MEP for Leicestershire, Roger Helmer was at Foxton Locks on Sunday to take part in the Inland Waterways Association 'Diamond Jubilee celebrations'. Mr Helmer, along with local councillor Brian Smith and local enthusiasts joined the narrow-boat 'Jubilee' for its trip along the Grand Union Canal to the top of Foxton Locks, in Leicestershire. Letter to the Editor - Nottingham Evening Post - Monday 15th May 2006 John Gretton (letters, 15/5) insists I am mistaken to claim that up to 80% of our new laws come from Brussels. He says it's 9%. Well John, if you don't like my estimate, how about Gordon Brown's? "Approximately half of all new regulations that impact upon business in the UK originate in the EU". That's a whole lot more than 9%! Save our Police Force! - Friday, 5th May 2006 Conservatives across Northamptonshire have today joined forces to attack the Labour Government's plans to scrap Northamptonshire Police force in favour of a regional ‘super-force’ and have launched a campaign against the proposals. Letter to the Editor - The Economist - Wednesday, 3rd May 2006 I was astonished to see Charlemagne's claim (Apr 29th) that "The euro, in short, has provided currency stability...". It has done no such thing. It has been spectacularly volatile, ranging from 80 cents to $1.25. Measured against a basket of international currencies since the launch of the euro, the Pound has been much more stable than the euro. Letter to the Editor - Nottingham Evening Post - Wednesday, 3rd May 2006 I rarely take issue with Ivor Johns, but I cannot agree with him that "The EU's power is easy to miss -- like an invisible hand" (letters, 21/4). Not from where I sit, it's not. Fury over government pensions blunder - Friday, 28th April 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer, a member of the Parliament’s Petitions Committee, has expressed his concern over the state of UK pensions after meeting a British man who came to the European Parliament to appeal against the loss of his 38 year pension. Local MEP nominated as Parliamentarian of the Year - Friday, 28th April 2006 Local Conservative MEP Roger Helmer has been nominated for a prestigious ‘Parliamentarian of the Year’ award. The Inaugural Conservative Movement Awards, launched by the www.conservativehome.com website, has received more nominations for Mr Helmer than any other politician. Other nominations include new Party Leader David Cameron, William Hague and Michael Howard. Celebrate St George’s Day! - Sunday, 23rd April 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEPs Roger Helmer and Chris Heaton-Harris have today issued a robust call for people to celebrate St George’s Day and to be proud of their country. Both MEPs have recently taken issue with the Liberal Democrat Leader of Newcastle City Council, Peter Arnold who insisted extraordinarily that there is no such thing as England. “Government's EU web-site is pure propaganda” - Wednesday, 19th April 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer has today slammed a new Government website, which claims to be a valuable resource on UK EU policy as ‘pure propaganda’. The new ‘Britain in the EU section’ of the FCO website claims to be responding to a Eurobarometer poll in which 60% of the public felt they would like to have more information about the EU. Letter to the Editor - Derby Evening Telegraph - Tuesday, 18th April 2006 Bill Turncoat Dunn MEP tries to justify his betrayal of all those who worked so hard to secure his election as a Conservative in 1999 (Opinion April 13th), by asserting "Thank goodness, in Britain people are elected as individuals, not as party apparatchiks". This is as near to a downright lie as makes no difference. Letter to the Editor - Nottingham Evening Post - Thursday, 13th April 2006 There are few sights more ridiculous than a Europhile like John Gretton trying to defend the indefensible (Letters, 12th April). He wants to convince us that the problems in the meat trade are nothing to do with Europe. But I remember visiting a small abattoir in the East Midlands where they had four inspectors watching three men work. Don't take sweets from strangers. Or Liberal Democrat Councillors! - Tuesday, 4th April 2006 A Liberal Democrat election guide for council candidates shows how low they will stoop in order to win an election, Roger Helmer, Conservative MEP for the East Midlands, said today. The election guide says that candidates should "go into the middle of a council estate with your leaflets and shout at all the local kids you can see and hear `any of you lot want to help deliver all these leaflets'". Letter to the Editor - Daily Telegraph - Saturday 1st April 2006 Amid the huge damage that New Labour has done to Britain's heritage, surely its abuse of our language ranks amongst the most egregious. Even the Daily Telegraph now speaks of "investment in public services", when clearly what is intended is (for the most part) current expenditure, not investment. Call for driving ban on Saudi men - Friday, 31st March 2006 In a remarkable move today, four MEPs, including East Midlands MEP Roger Helmer and Anna Zaborska, Chairman of the European Parliament's influential Women's Committee, have launched a campaign to ban Saudi Arabian men from driving in all EU countries. Gainsborough MEP slams EU constitution - Wednesday, 22nd March 2006 In a speech in Gainsborough on Friday, Conservative MEP for Lincolnshire Roger Helmer criticised the determination of EU leaders to push through the EU constitution. Mr Helmer was attending the Gainsborough Conservative Association branch dinner, at the Hickman Hill Hotel along with local MP Edward Leigh. Hands off our organs! - Wednesday, 22nd March 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEPs Roger Helmer and Chris Heaton-Harris have today reacted with anger to news that new EU legislation could threaten the future of traditional pipe organs in the region's churches. Letter to the Editor - Northampton Chronicle & Echo - Wednesday, 22nd March 2006 Kevin Barron is stretching things a bit to describe the Sustainable Development Commission as "the Government's independent watch-dog". Independent? It clearly has an agenda of promoting all renewables while opposing existing conventional and nuclear technologies. MEP lends hand in local by-election - Wednesday, 22nd March 2006 Leicestershire’s Conservative MEP Roger Helmer was in North Whetstone on Saturday to lend his support to the Conservative candidate in the local Council by-election for the North Whetstone Ward. MEP helps in Wellingborough by-election - Wednesday, 22nd March 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer was in Wellingborough on Friday to lend his support to the Conservative candidate in the Council by-election for Hemmingway Ward. Letter to the Editor - Northampton Chronicle & Echo - Monday, 20th March 2006 It is ironic to see Labour Councillor Peter Evans ranting against nuclear energy (Your Say, 15 March) at a time when his own Labour government is softening up public opinion to start building new reactors. End to British beef ban long overdue - Tuesday, 9th March 2006 A Conservative MEP for the East Midlands today welcomed the news that EU experts have finally approved the total lifting of the ban on exports of British beef. Save our cattle! - Wednesday, 1st March 2006 East Midlands MEP, Roger Helmer, is today up in arms over a campaign by the RSPCA (of which he is a member) against badger culling, stating that the campaign represents a real threat to farmers, cattle, and in the long run to the badger population too. Letter to the Editor - Daily Telegraph - Tuesday, 28th February 2006 It is extraordinary that the Power report seeks to understand public disaffection with politics, yet apparently does not once mention the EU. It calls for politicians to pass more powers to the electorate, but seems unaware that they are in fact passing powers to Brussels. Taking the ‘pis’ - Tuesday, 28th February 2006 Despite the overwhelming rejection of the European Constitution by voters in France and the Netherlands, the EU institutions are determined to resurrect it. MEPs are being urged to act as shock troops in the campaign to spread the word about the Constitution to a largely indifferent and uncomprehending electorate. Visit to Noble Cars - Monday, 27th February 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer was in Barwell, Leicestershire to visit flourishing local automotive company, Noble Cars Ltd. Noble Automotives is run primarily by Company Managing Director and Chief Designer, Lee Noble, who has been involved in the sports car business for over 20 years, working on projects such as the iconic McLaren F1 supercar. Hands off our Stilton cheese! - Thursday, 23rd February 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer today issued a robust call for an end to government interference in Stilton cheese manufacture, which could fundamentally damage this traditional product. Letter to the Editor - Daily Telegraph - Saturday 18th February 2006 The Lake District tourist authority is concerned at the small proportion of ethnic minority visitors it attracts, and is taking action to redress the problem. Letter to the Editor - Daily Telegraph - Thursday 16th February 2006 In the current debate about Conservative MEPs and the EPP group, the issue of "influence" is often raised, so it is instructive to see how this works in practice. On Thursday in Strasbourg, the European parliament voted the Services Directive, a long overdue measure to create a single market in services. Letter to the Editor - Derby Evening Telegraph - Tuesday 14th February 2006 As Conservative MEPs for Derbyshire, we are very concerned about proposals to close Pickford House Museum and to curtail opening hours at the Silk Mill and Central Museum. These are false economies. EU CIA Committee: "a platform for anti-US bile" - Thursday, 26th January 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer, a member of the European Parliament's Temporary Committee to examine allegations relating to "extraordinary rendition", has today described the Committee as "a platform for anti-US bile". Mr Helmer says that the main purpose of the Committee is to give the strong anti-American sentiment in parts of the European Parliament a stick with which to beat the US. Letter to the Editor - Leicester Mercury - Thursday, 26th January 2006 Collis Gretton of the European Movement writes that in the European Commission's maritime safety proposals, "there is no mention anywhere of EU flags replacing national ones" (Letters, 13th Dec). So what does he think the following quote, from the Commission proposal, means? EU trade policy ‘biased against Britain’ - Thursday, 19th January 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP, Roger Helmer has found new evidence that the EU’s trade policy is fundamentally biased against Britain. In the lead article of January’s edition of the European Journal, Mr Helmer writes that the EU's trade policy, and particularly its extensive network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), is radically biased against Britain and British trade interests. UK ports safe after directive rejected - Wednesday, 18th January 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer has today hailed a ‘significant victory for the fully privatised UK ports industry as The European Parliament threw out controversial legislation aimed at liberalising port services. Leicester businesses warned of scam - Wednesday, 18th January 2006 East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer has today warned Leicestershire businesses of the re-emergence of a scam that could see them unwittingly billed for thousands of pounds. Mr Helmer was initially made aware of the scam by local Leicestershire businessman Wayne Morris of Hair Designs by Wayne who received a bill for 937 euros after filling in what looked like a business register for a 'European City Guide'. Letter to the Editor - EU Reporter - Wednesday, 18th January 2006 I was delighted by your headline (Jan 16th) "H-Block Rules OK!". But I was astonished to read that Hans-Gert Poettering is accusing British Conservatives of bad faith. We had a deal under which the "ED" fraction of the EPP-ED would be given a degree of local autonomy, and respect for our distinctive position on constitutional issues. Letter to the Editor - The Daily Telegraph - Wednesday, 11th January 2006 The BBC's blatant bias on green issues is showing again. Six Asia-Pacific countries, including the USA and Japan, are currently meeting in Australia to develop strategies for reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Letter to the Editor - The Guardian - Friday, 6th January 2006 Polly Toynbee asks "What is (David Cameron) doing leading Tory MEPs into the party of Mussolinis and rag-bag neo-fascists?" (Jan 3rd). Polly is either vastly ignorant, or intentionally mendacious and mischievous, or quite possibly both. Protect our seas from marine invaders! - Thursday, 5th January 2006 Lincolnshire’s Conservative MEPs, Roger Helmer and Chris Heaton-Harris, have called on the EU to protect British waters from marine invaders discharged from the ballast tanks of cargo ships. In order to maintain stability during transit along coasts and on the open ocean, ships fill their ballast tanks with water. Large ships often carry millions of gallons of ballast water. Letter to the Editor - Lincolnshire Echo - Wednesday, 4th January 2006 Robert Gore (Your View, 22nd December) is so confused that it's difficult to know how to respond. He says that (A) I'm supporting nuclear power which (he says) is unpopular, and (B) I'm so concerned about re-election that I slavishly follow public opinion. These points contradict each other -- they can't both be right! Happy New Year! - Sunday, 1st January 2006 As millions of people welcome in the New Year with celebrations across the UK, East Midlands Conservative MEPs Chris Heaton-Harris & Roger Helmer would like to wish all of their East Midlands constituents a Happy New Year and offer their best wishes for 2006.