19th June 2010
Translation of criminal proceedings
Nikki votes against the EU
"You are not a country"

 

Mr President, I voted against this report, not because I do not believe in translation of criminal proceedings - it is of course very important that there is correct interpretation and translation in these proceedings. However, what this actually does is purport to add greater competence under the ECHR. The United Kingdom is already a signatory under the ECHR and it was incorporated into our law in 1998, as it is, I believe, across the European Union.
What we need to ask ourselves is why the European Union is going down this road. I believe it is going down this road -- and I think we all know why it is going down this road -- because this is another step on the road to statehood. That is why I voted against this. National governments must make these decisions. It is not for you: you are not a country. How many times do we have to say this?