Monthly Archives: May 2011

I’ve written elsewhere about the scandal of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, and the millions of tons of perfectly good fish thrown back dead into the North Sea because of the quota system.  But it took a TV personality to make … Continue reading →

Several recent reports have suggested that although carbon dioxide emissions in the UK have reduced in recent years, the figures are deceptive.  Put simply, much of our manufacturing has moved overseas.  If you want to know what emissions are attributable … Continue reading →

I’ve been a huge fan of Michael Gove.  I believe that his work on our schools is critical in delivering a modern and competitive British economy. Throughout the Labour years, we saw British schoolchildren slipping down the league tables compared … Continue reading →

Three months ago on my blog I reported on the first quarter’s experience of solar power, on my 2.4 kw system at home. During the worst quarter of the year for sunshine, Nov 25th to Feb 25th, the system delivered … Continue reading →

I’m not a regular member of the Women’s Committee in the parliament, but occasionally we are called in to substitute for absent colleagues in important votes.  Today both I and Jacek Wlosowicz MEP (Poland) were there to support our Women’s … Continue reading →

When I started out in Politics in 1998, I was in my mid-fifties, yet I often found myself at Conservative functions where I was more-or-less the youngest person.  But last night, arriving at the Brussels Conservatives Abroad event, I was … Continue reading →

Today it was announced that David Campbell-Bannerman, elected in 2009 as a UKIP MEP, has decided to cross the floor and join the Conservative Party, and the ECR (European Conservatives) Group in the parliament.  I am delighted at the news.  … Continue reading →

While in Taiwan last week, I visited a major company, Chimei Corporation, in the provincial city of Tainan.  (Chi Mei is two words in Chinese, translated as “Unique Beauty”, but it is best pronounced “Chim” as in chimney, and “Ay” … Continue reading →

It’s pretty unusual to find me coming to the defence of Ken Clarke.  But I think he’s had very unfair treatment from the media over his recent comments.  So far as I can see, while agreeing that rape is always … Continue reading →

On May 16th, my colleague Charles Tannock was accorded the exceptional honour of addressing the Taiwanese parliament (“Legislative Yuan”) in Taipei, in his capacity as Chairman of the European parliament’s Taiwan Friendship Group.  He became the first member of the European … Continue reading →

Dear David, EU/UN Observer status Press reports are saying that the EU achieved super-observer status at the UN “after high-powered lobbying by Catherine Ashton and ambassadors from the 27-nation bloc”. I am particularly concerned by reports that the UN motion … Continue reading →

Sally McNamara was a new graduate, with a degree in politics, when she applied in 1999 to be Press Officer for the East Midlands euro-candidate team.  She did a cracking job during the election, and I naïvely assumed that when … Continue reading →

A few weeks ago I received an invitation to attend a climate conference at Downing College, Cambridge, organised by Dr Alan Howard, mostly known for inventing the Cambridge diet and funding the construction of three rather beautiful buildings that now form part … Continue reading →