Governments must end the "travelling circus"

IN a week when Labour MEPs voted against the EU budget, they took the lead in calling for restrained EU spending, when Labour's Derek Vaughan led on a massive vote of MEPs, a majority of 5 to 1, against continuing the "farce" where MEPs meet in both Brussels and Strasbourg.   Local Labour Euro MP, Arlene McCarthy said:- "This week's vote sends a clear signal from the vast majority of MEPs. But unfortunately it isn't us who decide, it's the governments.  The wasteful monthly trip that we have to make as MEPs to Strasbourg was agreed by EU governments as part of a protocol attached to the Treaty of Amsterdam which came into force in 1997. It was previously agreed at the Edinburgh summit chaired by Tory John Major as British Prime Minister, and it has been included in Treaties ever since.  We are calling on governments to get together and change this. Labour MEPs rejected the European budget this week because it was too much money, and this is no time for the EU to waste money.  It is an expensive farce to have all the MEPs and the Parliament's staff packing up their officer into trunks and sending it from Brussels to Strasbourg.  3 important reasons why we should now stop this farce,  Governments through the EU are setting up swingeing public sector cuts that are hurting working people everywhere.  Estimates say the cost of the Strasbourg parliament is over €200 million for the extra seat. Governments should be seen to practice what they preach. It is a scandal to cause this totally unnecessary carbon footprint.  The University of York have estimated a carbon footprint of an extra 20,268 tonnes of additional carbon dioxide caused by this move. The adoption of a single Seat in Brussels would be in line with the Parliament's plan to reduce its carbon "footprint" by 30% by 2020. We only meet in Strasbourg for historic reasons. Strasbourg represented reconciliation between France and Germany after 80 years of different wars culminating in 1945. We are now the new Enlarged Europe and the significance of the end of Franco-German hostility is now consigned to history text books."

Labour MEPs are working cross party with allies in the European Parliament on the "Single Seat" campaign.  Arlene concluded:- "Strasbourg is a truly fantastic City and there are endless uses for the revamped European Parliament building. It could perhaps be a centre for European Summits making use of its excellent interpretation facilities, or perhaps a new European University. There are a host of ideas."

ROBBERY - TEXACO PETROL STATION, CROSBY

MERSEYSIDE Police Detectives in Sefton are appealing for information following an attempted robbery on Sunday, 28 October 2012, in Crosby.    At around 10.30pm, a 22 year old man was finishing work at the Texaco Garage on College Road, when he was approached by 3 men wearing balaclavas. The men were in a stolen a silver coloured Audi car, registration number H4 OOS, which had been stolen from a house in the Crosby area, several days earlier. The offenders unsuccessfully attempted to steal the garage safe, and the employee was assaulted and subsequently he had his iPhone stolen.  The men then drove off in the direction of The Pheasant Public House, Little Crosby.  Detective Sergeant Tony O'Brien, Sefton CID said:- "Even at this time of night, College Road is a busy main road and I'm keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the silver coloured Audi on the evening itself. I'd also be keen to speak to anyone who may have seen this car in the area in the days leading up to Sunday, 28 October 2012, and since that time. Detectives are following up a number of lines of enquiry and would urge anyone with information about the incident to contact us so we can take action. The young man was taken to hospital after suffering facial injuries, he is now recovering at home. This kind of behaviour is wholly unacceptable and we hope members of the public will help us to find the offenders and put them before the courts."  Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact:- 0151 777 3011 or Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.