| BIOGRAPHY | |
| NEWSLETTER |
 |
| EUROPE: IN IT TO WIN | |
| PRESS RELEASES | |
| CONTACT ME |
In this issue:
Richard was guest speaker at a lively meeting of Peterborough Fabians on the new EU constitution, subsequently supported by 77% in Europe's first referendum in Spain. Despite continued opposition in Britain, 'The Times' reported one poll in February supporting the new constitution 36-29%. Richard's campaign against Ryanair's charges for assistance to disabled passengers came a step closer with the publication of draft EU legislation to outloaw such discrimination. Issued on the same day that new EU rules came into force for up to £410 statutory compensation to any passenger whole flight is delayed or cancelled, Richard publicised the new rights at Luton Airport. TopRichard teamed up with Barnardos to promote new draft EU action against child exploitation, and at the same time raise vital funds for the charity by launching a national chess week at Sawston Village College, Cambridgeshire. He also visited the local Citizen's Advice Bureau to highlight new European legislation against Internet scams, and later personally congratulated the MacBrides at Heron Farm near Cambridge in achieving Soil Association accrediation - to highlight new proposals passed by MEPs to promote organic food.Richard tried his hand as a trainee florist, in announcing over £200,000 of European Social Funding (ESF) to the Priory Centre in Great Yarmouth. He also presented ESF awards for an innovative school placement scheme at Colchester Institute, and to assist in second chance reading, writing and numeracy skills at the Protech Training project in Leighton Buzzard. Richard got out his hammer and screwdriver to launch a new Handyperson service in East Herts, set up by the EU-funded Papworth Trust and joined the 'Frontline Bulgaria' group in Brentwood to raise funds for disabled children in Kula - in the country due to join the EU in 2007. Visited and was made patron of a local Tsunami appeal, which has already sent 8 containers of food, medecine and equipment to Sri Lanka, from the Buddhist Centre in Letchworth. Didn't shy from launching new fair trade coconuts at Sainsbury's in Huntingdon. Joined West Suffolk PPC, Mick Jeffreys to plant a tree to mark the completion of environmental improvements in Newmarket town centre, to coincide with regional Town Centre Management conference held at the town's race course.
As the June Parliament vote approaches on new EU rules, which will determine the future of £0.5 billion of European regional aid to the East of England, Richard scored an early victory in parliamentary committee. He successfully lobbied the Greek Euro MP responsible to accept proposals to extend the eligible distance for inter-regional funding, which will now enable Norgolk and much of the East Anglian coast to claim the monies which would have been denied, had the draft regulation gone through. Speaking at the region's Europe Panel meeting in Bedford, Richard called for concerted lobbying to back the region's case, between now and the final vote.
As Labour's European Foreign Affairs Spokesperson and Vice President of Parliament's Human Rights Subcommittee, Richard urged the EU to use its trade power to lever progress in a parliamentary debate on the Middle East peace process. He also spoke on human rights violations in Colombia and by big business, representing the Socialist group in drawing up MEP's resolution for the Annual UN Human Rights Commission. Richard took part in a joint meeting with national MPs including Donald Anderson, Labour chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, and took part in a 20-minute BBC News 24 debate on President Bush's visit to Brussels alongside Tony Benn and the Centre for European Reform. Parliament voted 617 votes for, none against, on a resolution to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. MEPs agreed a common EU driving licence phased in over 20 years to combat fraud and impersonation. Euro MPs also backed proposals tomake the deliberate or negligent release of pollution from ships a criminal offence. Drivers will also benefit from new EU legislation to make it easier to insure your car for temporary periods travelling abroad. MEPs called for stronger EU health and safety cooperation to combat the 5 million accidents which take place in Europe's workplaces each year. In this issue:
|
 |
|
|
WEB LINKS
|
|
