Howden Show 2010 - Godfrey Bloom President of the Show

Godfrey Bloom admires a fully restored 1953 Bedford	The American Bald Eagle in majestic full flight
Godfrey Bloom congratulates top show judge for the cattle classes, Richard Skowronek on a job well done.	Godfrey Bloom presents 1st prize for young handle of the cattle show
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July 21, 2010 - EU INVESTIGATES ‘MACABRE’ PLANS

MEP Godfrey Bloom today revealed his horror at news the EU is looking into 'eco-friendly' plans allowing undertakers to dissolve the dead then flush them into the sewage system.

"I am utterly appalled at this suggestion which is almost beyond belief and that is saying something with the bilge given the go ahead by the European Commission," said Mr Bloom, UKIP Euro MP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

The Commission is investigating plans which could see corpses dissolved in caustic solutions in a bid to cut down on the amount of land taken up by graves.

Belgian undertakers have come up with the proposals which could see people’s deceased loved ones being placed in containers containing salts and water.

Under the process, which is being proposed by the Flemish Association of Undertakers, these containers would then be pressurised and some time later the liquid and mineral ash left over could be flushed into sewage systems or be put into urns and given to loved ones.

From the sewage systems what is left of the deceased could be recycled in water processing plants.

"I am alarmed that this process could be approved and implemented across the EU, including, of course, Britain.

"We are talking about dissolving the dead and flushing them into the sewage system. I am appalled that the European Commission is even looking into this shameful and disrespectful suggestion.

"I find the whole concept macabre and have no doubt that the straight talking people of Yorkshire will think the same.

"It's the European Parliament that wants dissolving and flushing down the sewers," added Mr Bloom.

July 7, 2010 - Compensation makes bus delays a lucrative business

Delays to buses caused by accidents, roadworks or heavy traffic will make passengers liable for compensation under absurd new EU legislation, UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom said today.

Mr Bloom said that legislation voted on yesterday in the European Parliament will mean that bus companies are liable for all associated costs of delays regardless of the cause, even if it is beyond the bus company's control.

Many airlines were still suffering from the compensation they found themselves liable to pay because of the volcanic ash clouds which covered Europe earlier this year,he said.

“It is completely absurd to hold bus companies hostages to fortune in the same manner.

"Certainly, the Clapham Omnibus will see a growth in popularity, particularly if traffic delays mean free money for all the passengers. At a time when governments are trying to encourage people onto public transport, loading operators down with extra costs seems a spectacularly stupid thing to do.

"That said, stupid legislation seems to be a particular speciality of the European Parliament and the Commission. It is unavoidable that fares will have to rise to take account of the open-ended liability which legislators are imposing upon bus companies. Rural routes and urban routes on a small profit margin will simply cease to exist".

 

 

July 6, 2010 - SCHOOLBOY VICTIMISATION CONDEMNED

The victimisation of fit young schoolboy Tom Halton has been condemned  by MEP Godfrey Bloom.

"This is outrageous government interference in family life. As well as being Big Brother they are now Big Parent as well.

'Yes, of course, we have a serious obesity problem in this country and the number of overweight children is a worry. But sending warning letters to parents victimising their child is a step too far," said Mr Bloom, Euro MP for the UK Independence Party.

"Poor Tom was understandably very upset by the letter as he is a fit healthy lad. Just imagine how distraught a child, who was fat, would be.

"Children are sensitive creatures who are self-conscious about their bodies at the best of times. Many of them 'comfort eat' because of emotional problems and such an interfering letter could send them over the edge," he warned.

"Well done to Tom's dad for writing to Barnsley NHS asking them to stop sending out such missives. At the moment this initiative is being rolled out in Yorkshire but may well blight the whole country.

"If the government really wants to tackle the problem, how about providing more school playing fields, cookery classes and stop being hand in glove with greedy fast food manufacturers?

"And how about positive sports encouragement for youngsters, as happens in other countries? Maybe then we could actually produce more top class athletes who win top trophies for this country instead of being knocked out at an early stage," said Mr Bloom.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wirecopy/7868926/Slim-and-fit-11year-old-rated-obese-by-NHS.html.

 

June 21, 2010 - Yorkshire washed away by tidal wave of EU legislation

Euro MP Godfrey Bloom revealed today that the European Union has introduced 2756 pieces of legislation in the 12 months since the last European elections. 

Between last June and the end of May this year, EU officials had pushed through 1355 regulations, 167 directives, and 1234 other pieces of legislation and legislative instruments, almost none of which passed through the European Parliament.

"When people say that the EU is unimportant, or doesn't affect them, it is only because they have not seen the blizzard of legislation which it introduces, and which Westminster duly rubber stamps into British law," said Mr Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

"This is the equivalent of one new piece of legislation every 3 hours of every day, with each one adding a new burden, and a new cost, to life in the UK. No wonder the old parties don't want to talk about the EU," he added.

ends

Notes to Editors:

Legislation figures taken from the Official Journal of the European Union 'L' (legislative) series, and includes regulations, directives and other legislative instruments. The breakdown is given below:

Month                          Regulations                   Directives                     Other Legislation

2009
June                             115                              20                                108
July                              132                              8                                  95
August                          94                                27                                48
September                    123                              9                                  128
October                       130                              23                                97
November                    116                              14                                79
December                    139                              17                                209
2010
January                         120                              21                                114
February                      77                                10                                83
March                          109                              11                                128
April                             94                                6                                  81
May                             106                              1                                  64

Totals                           1355                            167                              1234

Grand total = 2756

 

15 June 2010 - LITTER OUTRAGE
  
An angry MEP has hit out at the mounting problem of litter despoiling rural and urban roads.

"We live in a throwaway society and sadly some people take that literally," said Godfrey Bloom, UKIP Euro MP.

"I've always backed the Keep Britain Tidy campaign but it appears to be a losing battle as statistics reveal a 500% increase in litter since the 1960s.

"Nowadays it is taken for granted, particularly by the young, that streets in towns and cities will be rubbish strewn, despite the best efforts of the street sweepers.

"It is also infuriating to see that when people have bothered to seek out a litter bin they are not emptied regularly. No wonder tourists arrive and mistakenly think a Festival of Litter is taking place.

"It breaks my heart when I am out and about in the countryside to see the beauty of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire marred by litter. It's a pity that some passing motorists take more pride in keeping their vehicle interiors tidy than the hedgerows into which they hurl their unwanted debris," said Mr Bloom.

"Empty cans, bottles and food containers are the favourite items and then, joy of joy, we have those particularly ignorant drivers who empty out their ashtrays in neat little piles. Apparently more than a million pieces of litter are thrown from cars every weekend in this country.

"I want to appeal to everyone to show respect for their surroundings and dispose of unwanted items responsibly, there is just no excuse for being a litter lout.

"It is useless to rely on the threat of fines as time has shown and changing people's attitudes is hard, though not impossible. I believe education is the real answer, with children being told from an early age that littering is wrong, for themselves and the environment. 

"We have beautiful countryside and it is important that we all do our bit to ensure its beauty is not spoilt by mindless, selfish morons," added Mr Bloom.

 

 

Godfrey’s 60th Birthday Cake

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May 25, 2010 - ENERGY CRISIS

EU wavering on emission targets has given Drax stay of execution, but our energy crisis has only been deferred by UK begging, says Euro MP Godfrey Bloom.

In July, the EU will finalise its plans to postpone emissions reduction targets by three years, altering the industrial emissions directive. 

"This extends the life of power stations in the UK, such as Drax, which were to be made illegal by the existing legislation, in 2016. This move has been attributed to requests from the UK government and energy suppliers, who say that the UK is not able to afford this move. 

"Green campaigners are annoyed. The UK and EU economies face ruin. The UK coalition survives on the scantest of agreements between the parties, mostly on green issues. Yet the public are not convinced of the climate agenda, and the country faces a huge energy crisis. Things can only get darker," said Mr Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

"As the EU is bailing out its members to the tune of hundreds of billions of Euros, it is considering spending what little cash it has on making its energy supply “greener”.  

"The UK, with its own financial crisis, is also obliged to reduce its carbon emissions. The absurdity of the situation has now been realised: we cannot afford to do this. 

"But Britain was forced to beg the EU for more time to get its green credentials in order. We can’t even act independently of a crisis-ridden institution when our own institutions face a crisis.

"We might be grateful for this extra time, but the reality is that it merely gives the Con-LibDem coalition three more years to twiddle its thumbs, rather than address the real problems faced by this country: our obligations to the EU, and our looming energy crisis.

"The new Con-LibDem coalition government is no better placed to deal with the energy crisis than the previous government. 

"Now that they have had to beg the EU for more time, they have exposed the hollowness of the climate agenda: i) it can’t solve the looming energy crisis; ii) conventional generation cannot be quickly, easily or cheaply replaced; iii) the green agenda is not capable of making money or jobs," said Mr Bloom, who is a member of the Environment Committee in the European Parliament.

"The choices that the government have to face could not be starker. Will we see more energy supply or will we see more of the export of British industry and jobs to overseas? 

"Are our Prime Minister and his policymakers going to continue to obey the green lobby and the EU, or is he going to listen to the needs of his country? 

"With the climate issue being the only thing that the two parties really agree on, how will the coalition balance its own political needs against the need to keep the lights on?  

"Now that the myth of green economics is being revealed, and with the UK and EU economies in chaos, how are we going to begin economic recovery, and how is it going to be powered?" queried Mr Bloom.

 

 

May 19, 2010 - MATERNITY RULE MADNESS

UKIP Euro MP Godfrey Bloom today described EU maternity leave regulations as "bonkers."

The European Parliament has proposed that the regulations should apply to both the self employed and the spouses of the self employed.

“From any angle you look at it these proposals are plainly bonkers,” said Mr Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

“It is obvious that nobody in the European Parliament has ever run a small business in their lives”.

"In Euro-world jobs abound, profits pour like oil from a stricken gulf platform and the future is full of grapes and loveliness. In the real world 14 weeks off means that clients vanish, jobs are lost and careers blighted.

“Imagine a small pub, the publican has a child and she and her husband take 14 weeks maternity leave. What does Europe propose to do, make it illegal for her locals to transfer their custom to another pub?” queried Mr Bloom.

The proposals reported on the parliament’s website state, “EU Member States should grant standard social protection, including at least 14 weeks' maternity leave allowance, for self-employed women and for wives or life partners of self-employed workers, says Parliament in a binding proposal to update an EU directive”.

 

May 12, 2010 - PAGAN MADNESS

The right for pagan police officers to celebrate their festivals has been described by a Euro MP as "politically correct madness."

The Pagan Police Association has just been officially recognised as a 'diversity staff support organisation' by the Home Office.

This means chief constables cannot refuse pagan officers' requests to take official religious holidays, which will be given the same respect as Christmas for Christians, Ramadan for Muslims and Passover for Jews.

There are believed to be about 500 pagan officers - including druids and witches.

"This decision is just ridiculous," said Godfrey Bloom, MEP for the UK Independence Party.

"The Home Office has gone barking mad, and not just politically. People are entitled to their own religious belief and they can use their holidays for their festivals if they want but it should not be a legal entitlement.

"And what on earth are jurors going to make of police witnesses who can now swear on their pagan religion when giving evidence?" said Mr Bloom.

 

May 13, 2010 - RAT POISON BAN FEARS

Grave concern over a boom in local rat populations have been voiced by Euro MP Godfrey Bloom

An EU report contains proposals to ban anti-coagulants in rat poisons - yet 95% of pest control products contain them.

"This will mean that many methods of rat control will be outlawed and I am fearful about the effect this may have," said Mr Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

"Britain's rat population is already on the increase following local councils limiting pest control services to save money. It is estimated the population will triple to 200 million, with rats outnumbering people three to one.

"The scrapping of weekly bin collections, teamed with warm weather, is likely to see the number of rodents, who are capable of producing 200 offspring annually, rise even more, bringing with it increased risk of contamination and disease, such as salmonella. 

"Without adequate controls to tackle the growth in the rat population, both householders and businesses, including the hospitality industry, could be plagued by vermin," said Mr Bloom.

"UKIP is very worried about this report by the European Commission’s Environmental Committee and we have urged an impact assessment and reconsideration of the proposals."

 

 

May 11, 2010 - TWITTER JOKER BACKED

Euro MP Godfrey Bloom has described the prosecution of twitter joker, Doncaster man Paul Chambers, as “an absolute disgrace.”

The offending off the cuff tweet in January suggested that Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster might be bombed if they fail to clear the snow which had caused the cancellation of a flight to Ireland.

“Who hasn’t railed against one or another part of our ridiculously overweening and incompetent state?” said Mr Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

 “Who hasn’t in a moment’s frustration suggested that an official should cease to exist in various colourful ways?

“This case suggests that our freedom to vent, on line or elsewhere is now curtailed.

“The police and CPS should never have pursued this nonsense. Or dare I say that, suspecting that South Yorkshire police will arrive on my doorstep in hobnail boots bearing a warrant for my arrest for speaking my mind?” said Mr Bloom.

Background to the case in The Lawyer
http://www.thelawyer.com/the-twitter-%E2%80%9Cbomb-hoax%E2%80%9D-case-worse-than-we-thought?/1003651.article

May 6, 2010 - UPS AND DOWNS OF A POLITICIAN’S LIFE

Squadron Leader Nigel Farage was downed over the South of England this morning.  

“He will be in the air again defending our island as soon as he is patched up.

“Be on your mettle Johnny Foreigner and fifth columnists alike,” said Godfrey Bloom, UKIP Euro MP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

 

April 21, 2010 - ST GEORGE’S DAY CALL

A call for St George's Day to be declared a national holiday has been made by the UK Independence Party.

" It is just crazy that Scotland and Ireland have national holidays for their patron saints and a huge thing is made each year for St David in Wales but poor St George hardly gets a look in," said Euro MP Godfrey Bloom.

" It is long overdue that a national holiday should be given for England. We have so much to celebrate in this country and UKIP believes that April 23 should be properly marked.

" I love to see the few patriotic souls who proudly wear a red rose each St George's Day and this is a tradition which we want to encourage.

" I appreciate we are in the middle of a recession but a red rose costs far less than even a pint of beer and shows the world that we are proud to be English," said Mr Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire.

ends

 

 

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Godfrey Bloom MEP with Thalia Macey aged 7 at the PPC Launch in Darrington.
Thalia’s reason for supporting UKIP: I would like to be able to go to a grammar school if I work hard so I can get a good education and a good job. I want to be a vet.
Tally's quote for the day: "He (Godfrey) was like a very nice, old Grandpa"
Godfrey’s quote: “Uncle surely!”

 

April 14, 2010 - BANKS APOLOGY OUTRAGE

Euro MP Godfrey Bloom has hit out at Gordon Brown over his banks apology.

“It is absolutely scandalous that the Prime Minister has apologized for the wrong offence in order to take electors off the scent. 

“The banks were perfectly, ably regulated by the Bank of England.  He deliberately changed that to have them regulated by government cronies at the Financial Services Authority,” said Mr Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.  

“It was a deliberate act of incompetence, not a ‘forgivable oversight’.

“Bank regulation was, and still is, ill conceived.  It is no accident that Canadian and Australasian banks were unaffected.  

“We do not need more regulation, heaven preserve, but better regulation.  Or it will all go wrong again,” he said.

ends

 

Parliamentary Questions

 

16 February 2010: Subject: European Union climate policies reviewed

In the light of: — the leaked emails from Hadley CRU, — the allegations of corruption surrounding Rajendra Pachauri, — and the recent exposure of non-peer-reviewed and non-scientific research from politically motivated campaigning organisations being included in IPCC reports; What does the Commission intend to do to investigate these affairs, and is the Commission planning to review its climate policies? Click here for the answer

5 February 2010: Subject: IPCC Assessment Reports
Has the Commission made a single attempt to scrutinise the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports before taking the advice they contain to turn it into policies such as the Emission Trading System (ETS) that affect millions of EU citizens and their livelihoods? If not, can the Commission provide an explanation?

Click here for the answer

 

The answer is a lie. It says "The Commission bases its climate policy
on solid scientific input ... " But in 2000 the commission published a
communication on the precautionary principle.
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/library/pub/pub07_en.pdf

 

April 14, 2010 - DATA FEARS

A Yorkshire MEP is urging GP patients to think carefully before allowing their personal health information to be transferred to a national data base.

Summary care records (SCR) are being introduced as part of the NHS Care Records Service so that patients' information can be accessed by NHS staff treating that person anywhere in England.

"I do not trust any government department with data, we are all familiar with the numerous instances of personal information being mislaid by careless officials," said Godfrey Bloom.

"But what is particularly wrong about this scheme is that patients have to opt out instead of choosing to opt in.

"This is totally wrong. The details about the scheme being posted to patients casually mentions that those unwilling to join should contact their GP, primary care trust or go to a website address," said Mr Bloom, Euro MP for the UK Independence Party.

"But people lead increasingly busy lives and it is likely that many will not get round to opting out, even though they do not actually agree with the scheme.

"This is not about giving patients a choice, it is another information grab by the government.

"It is being sold to us as improving the safety and quality of patient care and we are told that staff wanting to access the records need to 'go through a rigorous approval process' 

"Great, that is just what we need - staff spending even more time ticking boxes and filling in forms instead of getting on with treating patients!

"People would not dream of blithely allowing commercial firms access to their most intimate information.

"So before letting their details be handed over to SCRs they should bear in mind that the future holds the distinct possibility of NHS services being sold off to private firms," said Mr Bloom. 

ends

 

 

April 6, 2010

 

On the day the General Election was being called Godfrey Bloom, Euro MP said that this will be one of the most historic elections ever.

"Various statistics are being quoted about why that is but we believe it will be historic because for the first time the UK Independence Party will have MPs elected to Westminster.

"The people of this country have had enough of corrupt career politicians who can't even lie straight in bed. It is time for a real change and only UKIP can offer that.

"It doesn't really matter if the Conservatives, Labour or LibDems win the day, nothing will change as their hands are tied by the EU. We will withdraw from the EU so we can rule our own country again," said Mr Bloom, UKIp MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

ends

 

 

March 30, 2010 - FINANCIAL SERVICES CONCERNS

MEP Godfrey Bloom has lambasted colleagues and other European states for failing to grasp the impact the Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) directive could have on investment trusts.

Mr Bloom, UKIP Euro-MP  for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, has highlighted the lack of industry experience on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.

"The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs is slightly more informed than most other committees - but that doesn't mean much.

"I'm having to explain investment trusts to other members of the committee - that's the degree of knowledge there is. They don't understand what it is,” he said.

However, Mr Bloom said there were many people in the industry who failed to understand the extent to which new regulation proposed by the European Commission would have on the financial services industry.

"The concept of regulation of the City of London being moved to Brussels is enormous. People don't seem to be talking about this at all,” he said.

"The problem of moving it to Brussels is that everything they regulate is a disaster. I think it will have a detrimental effect on innovation on the City of London.

"I would argue there is a degree of concern that it is not being taken very seriously."

Mr Bloom said London firms could start looking for bases outside the EU's regulatory regime, such as Switzerland.

He added, "There is a fundamental misunderstanding by the European parliament that financial services is about risk/reward. What we have is the Commission trying to remove risk from financial services."

 

 

March 30, 2010 - Godfrey Bloom MEP receiving his graduation certificate for completing his Post Graduate Course with the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS)

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March 11, 2010 - CENSORSHIP ROW

MEP Godfrey Bloom has expressed fury at the treatment of a UKIP colleague in the European Parliament.

William, Earl of Dartmouth, was asked to leave a debate in Strasbourg for

saying that for hot countries such as Greece and Cyprus to have an

"Arctic policy" was "as bizarre as the appointment of Baroness Ashton

as the EU's high representative".

He was taking part in a debate on policy towards the Arctic as the ice melts and sea lanes open up in an area until now not governed by international maritime law.

Diana Wallis, a Lib Dem MEP was chairing the debate and she objected when Dartmouth raised what he called the absurdity of southern European states being involved in any policy to do with the Arctic.

When he made his remark about Lady Ashton, who had earlier addressed the

parliament, his microphone was switched off and Wallis ordered an usher to remove the MEP from the chamber.

"The European Parliament does not allow any dissent and this is another demonstration of that fact," said Godfrey Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire, today.

"The EU claims to run a democracy but the reality is it is a totalitarian state run by unelected bureaucrats in the European Commission," he said.

ends

March 9, 2010 - RUBBISH IDEA

"Pay-as-you-throw' rubbish charges should be consigned to the waste bin of history, a Euro MP said today.

And Godfrey Bloom pointed out that, unknown to many ordinary householders, the controversial plans are the direct result of the European Union.

"All we seem to read about is what the local councils are doing about bin collections and they in turn point the finger of blame at the government.

"But the reality is fortnightly bin collections and 'pay-as-you-throw' plans are because of the EU Landfill Directive.

"The Directive places a limit on the tonnage for waste disposal in landfill sites and the government incurs a £105 a tonne fine for anything over that. So the government charges local authorities a "tax" of  £24 for every tonne of rubbish they dispose of."

"It is this directive that has forced councils to cut rubbish collections to once a fortnight in order to reduce their tax bills. And fortnightly collections, which now apply over most of the country, lead to vermin problems and fly tipping. 

"But the government, as always, has to do what its masters in Brussels dictate," said Mr Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

"The 'pay-as-you-throw' scheme involves installing microchips in wheelie bins for which, of course, we have to pay. It is all very well for councils saying that the chips simply identify to which a house a bin belongs and may be used to offer incentives, but we know differently.

"The incentives will turn out to be fines for those who do not meet the recycling targets set by their council. And inevitably it will be the poorer larger families who will suffer,`" said Mr Bloom.

"If local authorities do not intend to monitor our waste then they should stop sneakily installing these bin microchips."

Mr Bloom added, "I am all in favour of recycling, it obviously makes sense to do so. But the approach being adopted claims to be 'carrot' not 'stick' but it will end up with us being punished by the 'stick'."

March 8, 2010 -CONTROVERSIAL FILM BAN

Al Gore's controversial global warming film would be banned in schools by the UK Independence Party.

Godfrey Bloom, MEP, said today that the film, 'The Inconvenient Truth' is actually "a convenient lie".

"UKIP would ban it and public authorities would not be allowed to spend money on climate change initiatives."

"It is wrong that Impressionable youngsters should be shown this blatant piece of propaganda as if it were the incontrovertible truth when in fact it contains errors and mis-information," said Mr Bloom.

"'The Inconvenient Truth' is in fact a convenient lie used by propagandists," he said.

The party's plans also include launching a Royal Commission led by a High Court judge to investigate whether global warming is man-made.

"Pending the results of the commission, we would build new fossil-fuelled power stations to meet energy demands and scrap subsidies for wind farms. 

"Our party has always been sceptical about claims of man made global warming and interestingly a recent poll found the just one in five people believe climate change is man-made, compared to one in three a year ago," said Mr Bloom, Euro MP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

"UKIP is the only party offering voters an opportunity to vote against the climate change consensus.

"All the major parties have decided to sign up to the eco-fascist agenda and therefore anyone who does not believe in that agenda has nowhere else to go," he said.

"The use of computer models by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is an unreliable research method in determining global temperature records," he added.

"UKIP’s policy would be to cease funding for the IPCC, pull out of the EU’s Carbon Trading Scheme and establish a Royal Commission that would allow scientists on both sides of the debate to research climate change. 

"This would enable politicians to act sensibly in response to the science rather than spending billions on ineffective carbon emission measures, when the science is far from settled”, said Mr Bloom.

March 1, 2010 - PRISONERS VOTES

The proposal that prisoners should have the right to vote has been described as "an outrage."

UKIP Euro MP Godfrey Bloom has announced that he is totally against the move to allow prisoners to vote in elections.

Following a European Court of Human Rights case the current blanket deprivation of the right to vote in UK elections has been declared unlawful.

"Why should they have the right to vote? They have broken the rules of a civilised society and obviously have no respect for the human rights of others, said Mr Bloom, Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire MEP.

"This is more politically correct nonsense. It sends out a message to criminals that society has gone soft. I do not believe it is right and nor do most right thinking members of society."

"But I fear in due course some prisoners will be able to vote because we remain bound by our Treaty obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, effectively to implement the judgement and because the Human Rights Act 1998 incorporates the convention into UK law. 

"The only way of preventing prisoners from voting, therefore, is for the UK to resile from the Convention, repeal the Act. We have a perfectly good Bill of Rights which has not been revoked. 

"If we need a new one, let us start the debate," said Mr Bloom.

February 23, 2010 - LATEST EURO EQUALITY LEGISLATION IS ‘STUPID AND WRONG’ SAYS BLOOM

Plans to make it compulsory to give 18 weeks of maternity pay on 100% of wages was today described as "the economics of the madhouse" by Euro MP Godfrey Bloom.

"At this time of economic crisis this proposed legislation is stupid and wrong. I said this years ago and I repeat it now. No small businessman or woman with two brain cells will employ a woman of child bearing age".

The Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee of the European Parliament will be voting tonight on the issue.

"It is stupid because rather than increasing employment possibilities for young women, it make them scarcer as hard pressed businesses factor in the risk of losing staff - whilst paying them for months on end," said Mr Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. 

"And it is wrong because it is the small businesses that create wealth and innovation. Doing this strips them of the ability to invest effectively in staff.

"It is sadly typical of a legislature made up of public sector employees, lecturers and charity workers - no concept of life in the real world, yet they have the temerity to dictate to those whose hard work pays their wages", said Mr Bloom.

February 22, 2010

PRESS RELEASE - NOT BLOWING IN THE WIND

Euro MP Godfrey Bloom has slammed wind farms following newly released figures showing the turbines inefficiency.

"Energy generated by onshore wind farms during the January cold spell averaged just 1%.

"Ruining our beautiful countryside with monstrous, useless wind turbines is an outrageous waste of money and effort and these figures amply demonstrate that point," said Mr Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

"Vast amounts of money are made by those involved in the wind farm industry and their agenda is to convince people that it is the way forward for our energy needs.

"It is a con and this has been highlighted by UKIP peer, Lord Willoughby de Broke. 

"He asked the government about the energy consultancy Utilyx'  estimate that wind energy produced 0.2% of the UK's energy requirement during the January cold spell.

"In response Lord Hunt, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, revealed that during the first two weeks of the year "operationally metered wind" contributed between 0.2% and 2.2% of the total operationally metered generation, averaging around 1%.

"He went on to say that only half the onshore wind farms and none of the offshore wind farms are operationally monitored so in fact the figures could actually be less," said Mr Bloom.

"Winters have been getting colder in this country and clearly wind farms are not the answer. 

"These figures show that wind power is at its most unreliable when the need for power is at its peak. When the wind does not blow on cold, still days the turbine blades do not turn.

"There must be an urgent re-think on meeting our energy needs and meanwhile I will continue to vociferously oppose planning applications for wind farms, both onshore and off shore," said Mr Bloom.

January 29, 2010 - DISBAND IPCC DEMAND

A Euro MP is pressing for the abolition of the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change.

"The IPCC was never a scientific body.  It was always a political lobby group to ‘prove’ made global warming.  It is their sole remit.

"No point in being surprised therefore when it cuts a few corners.  Recent data showed the globe has stopped warming for nearly a decade.  Well, they shredded it before the Freedom of Information Act could blow them up.  This story actually is nearly two years old, just a story never told,"  said Godfrey Bloom. 

"There still seems to be some significant confusion from columnists and correspondence on climate change science.  It matters not if you believe the globe is warming or cooling, or indeed the moon is made of green cheese. 

"We need to understand who does what to whom and why.  Climate science has been politicised whether we like it or not.  After all what red blooded politician is going to miss an opportunity to increase his control over the electorate and grab the opportunity to hike taxes at every opportunity.  Scare stories are the best catalyst for this behaviour. 

"Similarly individuals and big business love a band wagon, climate science has provided an opportunity to revive failing political idealism and make money at the same time.  Completely irresistible in the modern secular centralist post democratic era in which we now live in Europe and North America," said Mr Bloom.

"The Al Gores, Rajendra Pachauris and Lord Sterns of this world are making a fast buck out of the runaway gullibility of politicians, the great and the good and the usual sloppy journalism of the post democratic era.  Nothing new, the snake oil salesman is always with us. 

"So what to do?  Disband the IPCC.  No one will ever take it seriously again, even if it cleans up its act," said Mr Bloom, UK Independence Party MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire..  

"Remove the remuneration system for climate researchers from government patronage.  Accept that the debate is not over, it has never really started.  Stamp on the brake of economic global mayhem until we actually know something about climate change and its potential impact. 

"Stop the stream of government sponsored scare stories from Y2K, T Bone Steaks, Avian flu, Swine flu and global warming to fairies at the bottom of the garden.  One day there might be a genuine scare and no one will bother to take notice," said Mr Bloom.

January 18, 2010 - BURKA BAN PROPOSAL

UKIP Euro-MP Godfrey Bloom has called for the burka to be banned when there are security issues involved.

His remarks follow comments by the party’s former leader, Nigel Farage, MEP, expressing concern that muslim veils are a sign of a divided Britain.

“UKIP is extremely concerned about this and because of security concerns we believe burkas should be banned in public places such as banks and in schools.

“If a head teacher does not want them to be worn in his school they should not be allowed there but there is no objection for them being worn to and from the premises.

“This is a cultural issue, not a religious matter, it is not part of the Koran,” said Mr Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

“As a libertarian party we do not believe in banning things, such as fox  hunting or smoking or banning people walking down the street in a burka.

“But where security or crime is an issue then they should be banned in the same way that crash helmets are banned,” he added.

January 2010 - Captain Michael Briggs and Godfrey Bloom, old chums from 150 Northumbrian days share a drink at young Briggsy’s wedding

January 6, 2010 - COLD COMFORT

A Euro MP has expressed sympathy for Iceland's plight following the collapse of their banking system.

The country's president has refused to sign off a £2.3 billion deal to repay British savers and a referendum is now to be held on the issue.

"I feel some sympathy for the citizens of Iceland," said Godfrey Bloom, UK Independence Party MEP, today.

"They are being asked to pick up the tab for failed bankers, regulators and greedy investors who thought higher interest rates did not involve greater risk.

"I wish we had had a referendum on the bail out of our equally stupid bankers, regulators and politicians, all of whom seem to be carrying on as normal.

"I would have voted no and I hope they do," said Mr Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

ends

December 31, 2009

December 15, 2009

I have just returned from Copenhagen, I felt I simply had to find out what it was all about.  As I suspected it was more about tee shirts than science.  Thousands of people enjoying the friendly welcome of the city, but objective scientific appraisal there was none.

I mingled with youngsters from over the world.  None of them could even begin to discuss the subject with any authority.

Then the politicians arrived, more jamboree, more posturing, more promises of tax payers’ money for dodgy third world countries whose leaders covet more Rolexes, Mercedes and Rayban sunglasses.

All this based on CO2 being a ‘pollutant’ which it is not, the globe boiling in 2050, which it won’t, that independent scientific opinion believe the ‘debate is over’ which it clearly is not.

One theme displayed strongly, money is the driving force.  You would not believe how much of it is slushing about, most of it earmarked for those who already have plenty.

Godfrey Bloom
Member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in the European Parliament

December 8, 2009 - Wonderful Copenhagen? 

An MEP has accused scientists of "selling their souls to the devil" in support of the man-made global warming theory.

"It is a shame that the scientists who used to be respected and admired by the rest of us have sold their souls to the devil," said Godfrey Bloom, today. (Tue)

"Sadly we have learnt that many will fake their facts to fit the bureaucratic theory of man-induced global warming, ie hockey stick, disclosure of e-mails and documents from the Climate Research Unit, because it helps secure more funding for research.

“Simultaneously the scientists who dare question the alarmist warming theory are treated as pariahs.

"There is no such thing as settled science. Science can never be settled by definition otherwise we would still be living in the dark ages!"

"The inconvenient truth is that it is an opportunity for politicians to put their hands in our pocket; it is a way of taming developing countries' economic growth, a new form of colonialism", said Mr Bloom, UKIP Euro MP, who sits on the EU Environment Committee.

“To achieve this, the activists and other non-scientific bodies helped by the media are using emotional blackmail on us.”

The President of the Maldives has said that if the climate changes summit in Copenhagen fails all its inhabitants were going to die, and yesterday the world was witness to a weeping Fijian teenager tugging at our heartstrings while the railway engineer who heads up the IPCC took credibility beyond the limits when he threatened a sea level rise of 23ft!.

But Mr Bloom quoted Professor Nils-Axel Mörner, A former lead reviewer for the IPCC and former  head of Geodynamics at Stockholm University, who said "sea-level in the Maldives was 50 cm higher in the 17th century. The money is likely to flow in more quickly than the ocean will rise.'

"The only thing that this summit will bring with 20 000 delegates from all around the word flying to Copenhagen, some in private jet, is more CO2, but that's ok isn't it because it is to save the planet," said Mr Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Mr Bloom will be in Copenhagen on Thursday the 10th to meet scientists and to lobby the global-warming activists.

7 December 2009 - BY-ELECTION HOPEFUL

Taxi firm boss James Norie is standing in the Goole North by-election for the UK Independence Party.

Mr Norie has previously stood as an Independent candidate but has now decided that the policies of UKIP reflect his own views and aspirations for local people.

"I have lived in Goole for many years and sadly watched this town deteriorate," said 47-year-old Mr Norie. "I believe that UKIP's policies of local people being involved in local issues is the right way forward.

"I came to this country from Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe, where my English parents worked hard for many years to help and improve the native infrastructure under the Commonwealth.

"After doing my National Service in the 3rd Battalion of the Rhodesian African Rifles I went into farming and wildlife conservation, especially protecting the endangered species of black and white rhinoceri.

"But we had to flee our native country and leave everything we owned behind, due to the oppressive and dictatorial regime of President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party.

"My wife and I settled in the United Kingdom, built up our local taxi business and we now have three children.

"I feel strongly about my local community and want give something back to the home country of my parents, which welcomed me with open arms and gave us a new opportunity," said Mr Norie.

"I have always been prepared to work hard and I would do so for the people of Goole North," he added.

3 December 2009 - Why Sir Paul McCartney’s Anti-Meat Campaign is Misguided

By Stuart Agnew MEP

UK Independence Party – Eastern Counties

Today, in Brussels, Sir Paul McCartney is launching his anti-meat campaign in the misguided view that this is somehow going to save the planet. His contention is that methane emissions from ruminants will contribute to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, preventing heat from escaping and leading to Armageddon.

Technically methane is a greenhouse gas that occupies just 0.000002% of our atmosphere. Compare this with water vapour, the major greenhouse gas which is very variable, but might average out at 16% and we can put things in perspective. (Incidentally carbon dioxide, an essential plant food, but vilified as an undesirable pollutant only represents 0.038% of our atmosphere)

Ruminant animals themselves are only minor players in the production of methane. The major contributor to methane across the globe is termite activity, (with rice farming chipping in a share!).

Ruminants are part of the natural world order and it is conceivable that 150 years ago there were more wildebeest, buffalo and deer etc roaming the great plains of Africa and America than there are ruminants in the world today. Nature is a balance and it would seem quite out of character for one of the world’s natural inhabitants to contain the seeds of destruction of the planet.

Ineffective tinkering

Tinkering with the numbers of domestic ruminants therefore will not make a measurable difference to methane output, but it will have other effects. If meat consumption is reduced it will need to be replaced by other food which will need land on which to be cultivated. Converting grassland to arable land is in many cases impossible and in most cases will damage the environment, the very same environment that Sir Paul is so desperate to defend.  The final irony of his desire for us to stop eating meat is that vegetarians are known to be prone to flatulence, and think what that is going to do to gas emissions!

However, there is a more serious side to his activities in Brussels and it will work as follows. In my few months as an MEP I have been taken aback by the influence of the green lobby in Brussels, which seems far stronger than it is here in the UK. Sir Paul will be taken seriously by a number of individuals, some of whom will be part of C.O.R.E.P.R.A (the maze of 3000 committees that push ideas for new laws up to the European Commission) and they will put pressure on the Commission to legislate in the area of ruminant methane emission reduction.  The Commission, always wanting to be seen to be green, will respond by proposing such legislation and it will in time end up in front of the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, of which I am a member.

Most of the MEPs on the Committee are completely on message with the whole man made global warming religion and will be in an immediate dilemma as to what to do about this. On the one hand they want to support farmers, but on the other they have to be seen to be green. The result will be a compromise and a member of the committee will become the “rappoteur” to shepherd a new bill through Parliament.  He/she will be financially rewarded for doing this and although there will be some political bickering over amendments, a law will ultimately descend on the British livestock producer who will find himself struggling to record the farting output of his animals, but may also face “cross compliance” penalties if he doesn’t do it properly.

Complete scam

I have never been part of the man made global warming religion, which I view as a complete scam and am delighted to see the increase in the numbers of objective scientists who are prepared to pull it to shreds. This view was strongly reinforced with the news recently that the Climate Change Unit at the University of East Anglia have been trying to cover up evidence of global cooling in recent years.

I will therefore have no inhibitions in voting against all proposals to reduce methane emissions from livestock, and will try to get a few other MEPs on my side.

Ends

Further information about Mr Agnew and his campaigns can be found at www.stuartagnewmep.co.uk

December 3, 2009 - MEATY FEAST

Euro MP Godfrey Bloom attended a barbecue in Brussels yesterday (Thur) organized to coinicide with a visit to the European Parliament by music legend Paul McCartney.

The barbecue was arranged by the UK Independence Party to protest about the vegetarian singer's campaign to stop people eating meat to save Mankind.

McCartney flew to Brussels as he wants to get EU policy-makers to harass people into changing their lifestyles to "save the planet".

"These vege-evangalists think it is EU businesses what we should eat. That is nonsense,” said Mr Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

"It's not only farmers who will be out of a job if McCartney gets his way – the bureaucrats at the super-nanny super-state would make their own mothers redundant. Stand-by for EU directives on nose-picking, bottom-scratching, and not putting things in ears,"

Before the barbecue Mr Bloom attended a meeting of the EU Environment Committee, of which he is a member, along with the party’s North West MEP, Paul Nuttall.

Mr Nuttall told the committee, “The whole thing is a con. The EU is using climate change to justify its own existence.

“People like me who are climate change sceptics have been described as climate change deniers – but that is not true.”

1 Decmeber 2009 - Climate Luncheon/Conference
Royal Over-Seas League

On behalf of the EFD Group I arranged a Climate Conference held at the Royal Over-Seas League on Tuesday 1 December and invited a large number of journalists, opinion formers, scientists and members of the industrial sector.

We were privileged to have Lord Monckton of Brenchely to Chair the meeting and Professor Ian Plimer, Emeritus Professor of the University of Melbourne who gave an informative presentation to the guests.  This was followed by a Question and Answer session and discussions and debate continued over lunch.

Professor Plimer’s presentation was filmed and you can view this at:

http://www.ukip.org/content/features/1352-ukip-video-on-demand