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LETTER FROM
EUROPE
March 2010 |
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GILES
CHICHESTER CONSERVATIVE MEP
for the South West of England
and Gibraltar |
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What about the election?
People in Brussels are increasingly likely to ask me what about the
election, what will happen? This is hardly surprising given that we
are all political animals and what happens in one of the largest
member states can have consequences for the others. Plus they sense
the strong possibility of a sea-change in political fortunes akin to
1997, 1979, 1964 or 1945.
EU attitude
Their interest is heightened by all that they have heard about David
Cameron, how he has transformed the Conservative Party and what they
think they know about his attitudes towards the EU. They wonder if he
really wants to move the UK to the margins of European politics as
evidenced by taking we Conservative MEPs out of the main centre-right
group of parties in the European Parliament, going from the largest
group to the fifth in size.
In no particular order
What they may not know is just how low down the order of priorities
Europe is as an issue for everyone, except the obsessives in the
margins of right wing politics, in the UK. For the overwhelming
majority of voters, Europe ranks way down the list in comparison to
the economy, employment, schools, health, government debt, welfare,
law and order, immigration and the war in Afghanistan, to name but a
few issues in no particular order.
I blame it all on the press!
However, colleagues in Brussels have noticed the recent narrowing of
the polls and are asking questions about it. My theory, for what it is
worth, is that it is partly being driven by press and media coverage
which has discovered a rich new vein of stories speculating about the
prospect of a hung parliament. This makes reporters lick their lips
with pleasure about the limitless scope for articles.
Lord of the dark arts
I also suspect that the arch practitioner of the dark political arts
is hard at it trying to sow seeds of doubt as the moment of decision
approaches. However I do not believe even Peter Mandelson can save the
Prime Minister from the fate he so richly deserves at the ballot box
when he is finally forced to face the electorate.
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Labour failure/Tory tidy up
The foreign exchange markets have given a warning about their
verdict on the possibility of a hung parliament let alone a Labour
Houdini-like escape. Our challenge as Tories is to remind people of
how responsible this Labour Government has been for the mess they have
made of our public finances while, in the next breath, we offer both a
remedy for the debt and a recipe for recovery.
Policies for recovery
It seems to me that our spokesmen have been bringing forward a
wide range of ideas and policies to give hope of change for the better
in those areas mentioned above. I think George Osborne is right to
spell out the importance of restoring balance to public finances but
we know it will not be easy weaning public sector workers from their
over-privileged pay and pensions so we must hold out the hope of
things improving as a direct result of tackling public debt. We have
to make clear that the burden must not fall disproportionately on the
low paid and most vulnerable.
Rescuing the economy
One thing we must remember is how many times a Tory government has
succeeded in clearing up the mess made by spend and tax Labour
profligacy. Once sound finances are restored to the public sector, so
that the burden of taxation on the productive private sector can be
reduced to make room for growth and new enterprise, we can point to
the benefits that flow from prudent management of the economy. A
lesson forgotten by a certain clunking fist (Tony Blair gave us an
early hint on that aspect of Gordon Brown’s character!).
A breath of fresh air
The other point I would make is the likelihood of a massive turnover
in MPs with an unusually large intake of new blood, particularly on
our side of the House. They may not be so experienced but they will be
like a breath of fresh air and new energy to dispel the gloom and
tarnish of the out-going lot. Unpredictable maybe; different and
exciting for sure!
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Promoted and Published by Giles
Chichester MEP, Longridge, West Hill, Ottery St Mary, Devon EX11 1UX
Tel: 01404 851106 Fax
01404 850752 Email:
giles@gileschichestermep.org.uk
www.gileschichestermep.org.uk
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Meetings with lobby and interest
groups March 2010
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Devon Office
Katherine Bennett
CBE – Airbus
Richard Gard –
Airbus
Rachael Bloomer –
Airbus
George Chichester
– Airbus
John Poole –
Cornwall Residential Landlords
Association (CRLA)
Colin MacKenzie –
CRLA
Anne Ball – CRLA
John Poole – CRLA
Martin Follett –
CRLA
Robert Jones –
CRLA
Ruth Clarke -
CRLA
Angela Wright MBE
of Crealy Great Adventure Park
Brussels
Office
Karin Metzlaff- ESPO European Plant Science organisation
Bao Frank, RWE
Coupaye Noel, GDF Suez
Duarte Maria João, EPPSA
Duda Ulrich, E.ON Gas Storage
Dürr Matthias, RWE
Härmälä Esa, EFMA
Hlavinka Vladimir, ČEZ
Krejcirikova Zuzana, ČEZ
Maggi Domenico, ENEL
Marchetti Fabio, ENI
Poplineau Clothilde, GDF Suez
Stevikova Kamila, EPPSA
Tulonen Sami, FORATOM
Ruiz-Domingo Valerie, Storengy
Meynard Philippe, Storengy
Charrault Jean-Claude, European Energy
Forum
Michiels Maud, European Energy Forum
Verheust Pascale, European Energy
Forum
Clerens Patrick, EPPSA
Farley Mike, EPPSA
Haton Emmanuel, BP Europe
João Duarte Maria, EPPSA
Kurcz-Jenn Martyna, Alstom
Stevikova Kamila, EPPSA
Mr Zacharie Gross,
Director AREVA Brussels
Mrs Magali Smets-
deputy director,
AREVA Brussels
Dr Thomas
Breitkreuz, IVAA
Seamus
Connolly, EFCAM
Dr.
Gabriela Fagarasanu SRH Prohomeopathia
Nigel
Hubbers, ANME
Stephen
Gordon, ECCH
Dr
Patricia Le Roux, ECH
Dr Hedi
Luxemburger, ICMART
Dr
Walburg Maric-Oehler, ICMART
Dr Ton
Nicolai, ECH
Günther
Schulz IVAA/ICMART
René de
Winter, EFHPA
Christne Leurquin SES
Cecil Ameil,
SES
Dr. Klaus Uckel, of
the German Federal Ministry of
Education and Research
Declan Karrine
ISC Intelligence
Cochet Denis, Alstom
Axt Klaus-Dieter, ESMIG
Becker Markus, GE
Berger Alain, ALSTOM
Bjorkqvist Christer, ETN - European
Turbine Network
Blumereau Jehan-Eric, TOTAL
Böbinger Thomas, BDEW
Böger Florian, EUTurbines
Clerens Patrick, EPPSA
Davies Siân, CEWEP
Donath Heyko, E.ON Ruhrgas
Esdaille-Bouquet Thomas, COGEN Europe
Grossekathofer David, SWM
Hofer Edith, E-Control
Jamblin Vincent, Tractebel Engineering
Janischka Ulrich, EnBW Energie
Lasheras Fernando, IBERDROLA
Maggi Domenico, ENEL Spa
Naudy Adèle, Alstom
Perraudin Jean-Claude, CEA
Piel Aloi, Euroheat &Power
Scaroni Elena, ENEL Spa
Ulrich Janischka, ENBW
Van der Loo Hans, Shell International
Vuye Thierry, Representative of GDF
Suez
Wollmann Nina, MVV
Zangrandi Roberto, ENEL Spa
Zollino Giuseppe, Consorzio RFX
Ahluwalia Kavita, E3G
Charrault Patrick, Communications,
Idees, Sens
Clausecker Michael, UNIFE
Franz Folker, BusinessEurope
Frisvold Paal, Bellona Europa
Gaventa Jonathan, E3G
Hamill Claudia, European Forum of
Manufacturers
Kaufmann Peter, Economie Suisse
Kumar Snajeev, E3G
Mazzucchelli Paola, EUREC
Scott Jesse, E3G
Skillings Simon,
E3G
Ian Beggs,
Aviva
W R
Giles, BAE
Barry King, ConocoPhillips
Francis Bailly, GE
Edward Lewin, Hewlett-Packard
Nicky Denning, Jaguar and Land Rover
Lizanne Scott, Motorola
Hans
Van der Loo, Royal Dutch Shell
Richard Rumbelow, T- Mobile
Rory
Macmillan, Nike
Truus Huisman, Unilever
Liam
Benham, Ford
Giles Dickson, Alstom
Chris Yarsley, FTA
Antony Fell, EEF
Dwight Demorais, MPA
Eva
de Marchi Taylow, SMMT
Tahir Majid, Centrica
Douglas Herbison, Amdea
Chloe Meacher,
Tesco
Malcolm McAlpine, Sir
Robert McAlpine LTD
Alex
Trott, Shell
Rohan Mahlotra, Fidelity International
Simon Marsh, CIA
Wim
Hamers, Corus
Ricahard Lambert, CBI
Sean
McGuire, CBI
Emma
Watkins, CBI
Charlotte Milligan, John Midgley,
Michael Quigley - Sovereign Strategy
Tim Watkins – Vice President, Europe
Huawei Technologies
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