Monthly Archives: December 2008

Two for the price of one — Dec 30th brings news of new health tests for drivers, and of proposals (from the “Commission for Integrated Transport” and the “Motorists’ Forum”, whoever they are) for “voluntary” Speed Limiters to be fitted … Continue reading →

It’s terribly bad form to pour scorn on another’s discomfiture, but I’m afraid that in the case of David Lammy, I just can’t resist the temptation.  Mr. Lammy is described as Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, … Continue reading →

I’ve been saying for some time that unless we get on and build more mainstream base-load generating capacity — ideally coal and nuclear — then we can expect the lights to go out around 2015.  We can expect rolling black-outs … Continue reading →

As an MEP, I seem to spend rather a lot of time in correspondence with constituents, and generally speaking I find them remarkably reasonable and courteous, even when they are disagreeing with me.  I enjoy the correspondence, and try as … Continue reading →

A week ago I saw the end of the BBC’s excellent dramatic adaptation of Dickens’s novel Little Dorrit.  The story hinges on a phenomenally successful financier, Mr. Merdle, who has people begging him to invest their money in his funds.  … Continue reading →

Click here for my plenary speech on the recent meeting between senior MEPs and Czech President Mr. Vaclav Klaus. Speech took place at 18:00:29

Click here for my speech on renewable energy and wind farms The speech starts at 16:23:58 NB – There is currently an issue loading plenary videos up to youtube. As soon as the issue is sorted they will appear on … Continue reading →

A short film from Euronews, featuring the campaign against the wind-farm in Swinford, Leicestershire.

The parliament voted earlier yesterday (Dec 17th) to scrap the British opt-out from the EU’s Working Time Directive.  It beggars belief that at a time when we’re staring recession in the face, we should be voting to make people work … Continue reading →

It appears that the assurances offered by the EU to Ireland to entice them to accept the Lisbon treaty actually make little or no difference.   They’ve been offered a full-time Irish Commissioner.  But while the Lisbon Treaty proposed a … Continue reading →

My animated Christmas card in now online – Merry Christmas!

In the nearly ten years I’ve been in the parliament, I have probably had more constituent mail on one issue than any other: the European City Guide scam (and the same goes for my colleague Chris Heaton-Harris MEP).   If … Continue reading →

Last Post from Poznan, dateline Friday Dec 12th.  Today I attended a briefing on the progress of the internal EU Climate Package negotiations, delivered by a French Minister on behalf of the Council, hot-foot from Brussels (where Al Qaida plotters … Continue reading →

We have all watched as the cities of Greece have been torn apart by disaffected youths looting shops and burning cars, and engaging in running battles with police. Now the unrest is spreading. There were supporters demonstrating at the UN … Continue reading →

In its leaflet “Addressing Deforestation …. the Commission’s position on REDD”, you refer to the EU objective of limiting the global temperature rise to no more than 2 degrees C above “the pre-industrial temperature”. Is the Commission aware that in … Continue reading →