Freedom and Democracy Nikki Sinclaire Your MEP West Midlands



	19th January 2010 Why UKIP should leave the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) Group The Case for withdrawal 1. UKIP MEPs were elected to represent UKIP and to pursue the argument for EU withdrawal We stood for election on a platform of principle and clarity. We were elected as UKIP and to fight for withdrawal from the EU. We should stay true to that. We were not elected to join to support the Parliament's agenda and certainly not to work alongside those against withdrawal. You elected UKIP but have got EFD. 2. By sitting with MEPs who are against withdrawal we are compromising our case In the eyes of the European Parliament and many observers we are seen as EFD and not UKIP. Yet all EFD members, except UKIP, are working hard to make the EU better. They do not want withdrawal. They would not allow the word ‘withdrawal’ or 'independence' to be used in the Group’s mission statement. We are therefore part of a coalition that waters down and even contradicts our original position. We compromise both our principles and our action. 3. EFD helps the EU to work; we should not be doing that Few people in UKIP understand the extent to which the Party has been subsumed within the group. EFD wants to make the European Parliament stronger. It wants the EU to work better. It argues for constructive reform. On a day-to-day basis it often supports the introduction of directives and policies to expand EU power. The Co-presidents,Lega Nord, call for a single European policy on immigration. UKIP should be on the opposite side – arguing against reform and for abolition. 4. EFD includes some very strange bedfellows The group contains parties who have a variety of extremist views which includes racism, anti-Semitism and violence. One of these parties, Lega Nord was removed from the last EU group to which UKIP belonged, Indpendence & Democracy (Ind Dem), because of their extremist views. Despite this history, they are now Co-Presidents ofEFD and hold the power of veto on Nigel Farage. Political Editor and commentator, Seamus Milne, on the Politics Show (16th January 2010) described Lega Nord as "vicious" and said that we “were in bed with some very ugly people.” In a BBC interview, Nikki Sinclaire MEP and Mike Nattrass MEP were asked, if UKIP was not a racist party why we were linked up to parties like Lega Nord who advocated shooting and sinking ships full of immigrants and also called African immigrants ‘ Bingo Bongos’? A Lega Nord member was convicted of setting alight an immigrant's belongings, endangering their life. 5. EFD compromises our position both in Brussels and in Britain UKIP has to water down its words and tactics in Brussels so as not to upset other members of EFD who take the reformist, anti-withdrawal line. And EFD will only back UKIP in Britain when UKIP promotes arguments that fall short of outright withdrawal. Leading Economics Professor, Tim Congdon stated in late 2009 that he was very disappointed to see the extent to which UKIP MEPs "had been 'captured' in the sense of not seeing that their job was in Britain, not in Brussels or Strasbourg." UKIP leader, Lord Pearson also recently stated that "our role in Britain is what matters not the European Parliament." 6. It is a myth that we benefit financially from EFD membership It is claimed that Group membership brings with it money for UKIP. This is completely false. First it would be illegal to pass this money to UKIP. It is for the use of EFD and very restrictive rules apply. Secondly the budget follows MEPs whatever group they are in. If one joins the non-aligned, the EU monies allocated are slightly less but at least you can be in charge of all your allocation. In some instances, there would be fewer restrictions. For example, the UKIP logo could be prominently used with the party and MEP's name. In the first six months of this parliament, the West Midlands' region has not received one penny from the EFD, yet both MEPs would have had over £40,000 to use in that period had they been non-aligned. 7. Being in EFD gets us more media coverage Neither the public nor most journalists have ever heard of EFD. Our media coverage results from what UKIP, its MEPs and campaigners do and say. When Nigel appears on TV, it is as UKIP. It should also be noted that Tory MEP, Daniel Hannan received more press attention as a non-aligned member than Nigel Farage did when they both attacked Gordon Brown. 8. Because the EFD group is a precursor to a full Pan European political party The current proposal on the table for UKIP MEPs in Brussels is for UKIP to join such a party to conform to the EU plan to entrench the federalist Euro-state:a President, a Foreign Secretary, Flag, Anthem, Police Force, Army, Parliament, MEPs and pan-European political parties. We should do as the electorate told us to do and SAY NO to European Union and to those apparata that help them to remove our sovereignty and our British identity. Nikki's previous statement, Brussels, 1st July 2009 Nikki is guided by the goal and principle of the UK withdrawing from the EU. In her work to achieve the above she will constantly be reviewing her actions and associations and will endeavour to make the right decisions. EUROPE of FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY The Group Political Platform The Group is open to Members that subscribe to a Europe of Freedom and Democracy and acknowledge the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and parliamentary democracy. The Group subscribes to the following programme: 1. Freedom and co-operation among people of different States Committed to the principles of democracy, freedom and co-operation among Nation States, the Group favours an open, transparent, democratic and accountable co-operation among sovereign European States and rejects the bureaucratisation of Europe and the creation of a single centralised European superstate. 2. More democracy and respect of People’s will Convinced that the legitimate level for democracy lies with the Nation States, their regions and parliaments since there is no such thing as a single European people; the Group opposes further European integration (treaties and policies) that would exacerbate the present democratic deficit and the centralist political structure of the EU. The Group favours that any new treaties or any modification of the existing treaties are to be submitted to the peoples’ vote through free and fair national referenda in the Member States. The Group does believe that the legitimacy of any power comes from the will of its Peoples and their right to be free and democratically ruled. 3. Respect for Europe’s history, traditions and cultural values Peoples and Nations of Europe have the right to protect their borders and strengthen their own historical, traditional, cultural and religious values. The Group rejects xenophobia, anti-Semitism and any other form of discrimination. 4. Respect for national differences and interests: Freedom of votes Agreeing on embodying these principles in its proceedings, the Group respects the freedom of its delegations and Members to vote as they see fit.