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In this issue:
As well as being reappointed Labour’s European Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, Richard began the new mandate being elected as Vice-President of Parliament’s Human Rights Committee. The election builds on Richard’s strong campaigning record against human rights abuses committed by multinational companies abroad, the survival of the Kalahari bushmen in Botswana and against the dirty war in Colombia. “The European Parliament has a long tradition for exerting political pressure on regimes through the world in defence of peace, democracy and human rights” says Richard. “Whilst the Tories do their utmost to prevent the European Union developing a strong voice in global affairs, my postbag demonstrates that local people want Euro MPs to champion human rights and combat injustice wherever it is found in the world”. One of Richard’s first actions was to join with the East of England’s Labour MPs in supporting the emergency appeal to support victims of the genocide in Darfur in Sudan – which Richard had visited with a European Parliament delegation earlier this year. Richard used video-conferencing from Brussels to deliver the good news to a Braintree launch that £3million European Social Funds (ESF) will be awarded to community projects throughout Essex by the county’s Key Fund. He also visited ESF-funded QEST in Cambridge, to publicise new help in finding work for people with mental health problems in the city. ESF funded students at Ridgemond Training, Stevenagereceived their certificates from Richard. TopFurther job losses in Luton’s car industry came under fire from Richard, who joined up with AMICUS trade union officials to campaign with 200 workers in Peguform, against mass redundancies. Richard also helped AMICUS’s campaign for manufacturing speaking to stewards from Delphi, based in Luton and Sudbury, and to the trade union’s summer school at their college in Bishop’s Stortford. TopA two-year European Forum making recommendations for better corporate responsibility – in which Richard represented MEPs – completed its business just before the summer break. The results are due to be debated and voted in the European Parliament next year. In this capacity, Richard debated with CBI Director General, Digby-Jones organized by ‘Just Share’ in the City of London. Richard highlighted how EU funding is helping schools across the region introduce development education in to the curriculum, when he spoke at the AGM of the Harambee project in Cambridge, and joined a separate thank-you party for volunteers at the newly relocated Traders Fair shop in Colchester. Whilst the East of England’s two UKIP MEPs were busy joining their colleagues in making fools of themselves at the first parliamentary session in Strasbourg, Richard crossed swords with UKIP’s Leader in a thirty-minute phone-in on BBC Radio Five Live. As well as joining a party social in Cambridge and Bill Rammell MP’s annual garden party in Harlow, Richard reported back on the European election campaign at meetings of the Labour East Regional Board meeting in Royston and of the Norfolk County Party meeting in Great Yarmouth. He submitted around 20 amendments to key policy papers on the economy, health, education, transport and crime – as MEP representative on Labour’s National Policy Forum. Joining up with our own region’s representatives, the papers will be submitted to Labour Party Conference before forming the basis of the next General Election manifesto. TopRichard was the only one of the region’s Euro MPs to attend and speak at the annual meeting of the Regional Assembly, held in Ipswich. He met up with Cllr Sharon Taylor from Stevenagewho has been elected as Labour’s new regional representative serving on the EU Committee of the Regions. Richard was Guest of Honour when the refurbishment of the historic theatre at Cromer Pier was unveiled – the first part of a three-stagemulti-million pound EU funded refurbishment of the town’s seafront. Richard joined local trade unionists and pressure groups to back a campaign for a fair Olympics. The ‘Play Fair at the Olympics’ campaign reveals how big sports brands are exploiting workers in order to fill shops with the latest and cheapest sportswear and accessories during the Olympics. It highlights how the Olympics Movement – custodian of the Olympic spirit of fair play – has done little to end the exploitation of workers who make sportswear bearing their emblem. Richard publicly welcomed a new study published by the research group ‘Experian’ which predicts that East Anglia will be Europe’s seventh fastest growing region over the next five years. “This is further proof of how much we, are benefiting from Europe, with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire due to score even higher results,” said Richard. “Put together Britain is forecast as third most successful economy of the previous EU 15 – with new members from Eastern Europe understandably due to fare even better”. Richard expressed disappointment at Norfolk Business Link’s decision to close its European Information Centre this month. “Having campaigned successfully for this service for local businesses to be incorporated in The Forum in Norwich, I am concerned by the announcement,” said Richard. He pledged to discuss with Business Link alternative ways in which EU information could still be made available to companies, as well as seeking to ensure the financial contribution from Brussels is not lost. In this issue:
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