The Socialist 20 May 2009

We need workers' MPs on a worker's wage

Swindling MPs are detached from reality

Reinstate Rob Williams!

Thousands march for jobs in Birmingham

Visteon workers' victory march

Why socialists oppose the EU

No2EU - yes to democracy

Sri Lanka: The guns fall silent but the tragedy continues

End Gaza blockade

Tiananmen 1989: Seven weeks that shook the world

Youth Fight for Jobs fortnight of action

Enthusiastic reception for Youth Fight for jobs

Don't close our schools!

Charlotte Turner

Kings College, London

Lewisham Bridge rooftop protest

BT say they're sorry

Welsh-speaking worker bullied by boss

PCS conference gathers

Construction workers walk out

Union organisation necessary to defend working conditions




Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/580/7313

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No2EU - yes to democracy

Below is a letter by European election No2EU candidate for the West Midlands, Dave Nellist. It was published in the Birmingham Post.

Ruthless EU is Thatcherism writ large

Birmingham Post 18 May 2009

Dear Sir,

While being grateful for the mention in your report (MEP candidates face Q&A session in Birmingham, Birmingham Post, May 11), I think I may have been misheard.

It is not normally like me to "slam the EU as 'toothless"' as the report claims, more likely the word I used was ruthless. I do believe the EU has a ruthless agenda to expand privatisation into wider areas of our public services; the current plans for selling off part of the Royal Mail could well be followed by pressure for greater private involvement in health and education. I also believe that the export of jobs and factories, and the use of exploited labour, are ruthless aspects of the EU's 'Thatcherism writ large'.

However, it was correct for your report to say that, should I be elected as an MEP for the No2EU campaign, I would not be taking the exorbitant salary and expenses of an MEP.

In fact - as was the case for the nine years that I was an MP in the 1980s - I would limit my take-home pay to that received by a skilled factory worker in our region and any wages received above that would go towards campaigning on behalf of working people and to other donations.

Any No2EU candidate elected would also have complete transparency regarding expenses. I have now written to all other 11 parties contesting the June election challenging them to clean up politics and promise that if elected they would publish their expenses in total every three months so that the people of the West Midlands can see exactly what they are paying for.