The annual report of the West Midlands Conservative MEPs. ANTHEA McINTYRE MEP DANIEL DALTON MEP

Transcription

1 The annual report of the West Midlands Conservative MEPs. ANTHEA McINTYRE MEP DANIEL DALTON MEP Conservatives in the European Parliament 2016

2 Contacting Anthea Constituency Office The Chapel, Wythall, Walford, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire antheamcintyre.com Facebook Anthea McIntyre MEP Contacting Daniel Constituency Office Office S4, Berkeley House, 6-8 The Square, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1EB europarl.europa.eu Facebook Daniel Dalton MEP The highlight of 2015 was without doubt a stunning victory for the Conservatives at the General Election. Our success was made possible by consolidating and strengthening our position in the West Midlands. It was a fantastic team effort and we both enjoyed meeting members and volunteers as we campaigned across the region. The European Union is in need of reform and Conservative MEPs are at the forefront of that project. We are determined to see West Midlands businesses benefit from a deepened single market, enhanced trade deals and our battle against red tape. We are both committed to delivering a referendum on EU membership and when the time comes we will do all we can to present the facts as honestly and simply as possible. 3 An Economic Success 4 Reform, Renegotiate & Referendum 5 News 6&7 Out and About CONTENTS 8 News 9 Campaigns 10 News 12 Get In Touch

3 2015 General Election Winning in the West Midlands The West Midlands An economic success Not only did the West Midlands play a decisive part in the 2015 General Election, its economy is leading the way as we are the only UK region with a trade surplus with China. Driving UK exports are companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and its all important supply-chain. It s also great to see Birmingham Airport establishing new routes with China and other parts of the world. Unemployment is consistently falling (see graph below) and output and productivity are up. The region now has 33 Conservative MPs, hundreds of Councillors and two MEPs. Not for a generation has our region had such a strong team dedicated to promote the growth that creates jobs and prosperity. The news is good but we are not complacent. In 2016 we will be reporting on what more can be done to remove trade barriers across Europe and cut red tape. We must also promote trade deals with the USA and China and allow our companies to expand and thrive. Daniel and Anthea campaigned right across the West Midlands in GE2015. Quarterly Jobless figure for the West Midlands since Unemployment peaked in 2009.

4 REFORM, RENEGOTIATION AND REFERENDUM By the time this annual report is published we may know the outcome of David Cameron s renegotiation of our membership of the EU and we may even know the date of the referendum. We will be studying the deal very carefully before deciding which way to vote; we have completely open minds and will present the facts to you in an open and honest manner. In the end the decision will be made by the British people and we all have an obligation to think about what we do and its long term implications. What is just as important is that the Conservative Party unites into a winning force. Our nation will not be served by us losing the next General Election and putting Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street. OUR AGENDA FOR CHANGE We must ensure the Single Market returns to competitive free market principles, removing barriers for businesses, and reducing costs for consumers. We must protect UK financial interests. The UK is not in the Euro, the Monetary Union, Fiscal Union or Banking Union. That difference must be enshrined. Financial rules for the Eurozone must never apply here. We must protect our borders. We cannot be a haven for unlimited numbers of economic migrants. We need stronger border controls to prevent crime and eliminate health and benefits tourism. We must protect our sovereignty. We do not wish to be part of ever closer union and we need a stronger role for national Parliaments. above - Anthea campaigning with Business Secretary Sajid Javid. right - Daniel meeting the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

5 As Conservative employment spokesman, Anthea s campaign for BRINGING JOBS BACK TO BRITAIN is gaining ground. Her key report on Re-shoring - reversing the trend of work being moved offshore - won overwhelming support and laid down the challenge for the EU to cut red tape, simplify regulation, lower taxes and allow a flexible market. Good news for BRIDGNORTH CLIFF RAILWAY IN SHROPSHIRE which is now exempt from a burdensome EU regulation that could have forced it to close. The plan was to standardise cableway mechanisms but historic attractions like Bridgnorth would have found this impossible to comply with, as many of their components are custom-made. Daniel persuaded fellow MEPs of the need for an exemption. There was GOOD NEWS FOR BRITISH WORKERS as Anthea won a deal meaning jobs can be advertised in this country only. She secured key amendments to new regulations governing EURES, a website used by people across Europe seeking work. It means businesses have the choice of advertising their jobs to British residents only and that people in Britain get the first chance to secure those jobs. In 2015 Daniel teamed up with the Dogs Trust in Kenilworth to raise the alarming issue of the ABUSE OF THE DOMESTIC PETS PASSPORT. Puppies are coming into the UK from Eastern Europe in large numbers under legislation designed for pet owners to take their animals on holiday. The new owners are often oblivious to the poor health of their new pet. The EU Commission, in response to Daniel s campaign, is now reviewing the situation.

6 OUT AND ABOUT 1. Visiting Barton Cold Farm, Droitwich Spa. 2. At Birmingham Airport s inaugural scheduled 3. Promoting Warwickshire Gin. 4. At Ibstock Bricks in Chesterton. 5. Supporting Troop A in Solihull. 6. Talking to farmers in Worcestershire. 7. Promoting the world cup in Rugby 8. At AGA in Telford with Lucy Allen MP. 9. Supporting Herefordshire Cider. 10. Visting the Digital Garage in Birmingham. 11. Supporting Small Business Saturday in Hereford

7 China flight. id At Warwick Sport. 13. Glass blowing demonstration at Wolverhampton University. 14. Touring Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull. 15. At the Coventry based Childrens 15 Air Ambulance. 16. Meeting apprentices at EEF in Birmingham. 17. Visiting Sadlers Ales Micro Brewery in Stourbridge. 18. Birmingham Councillor s Charity Cricket Match. 19. Visiting Ceramics Valley in Stoke on Trent. 20. With Aston Martin apprentices at Gaydon. 21. Meeting shoppers in Ludlow. 22. Visiting Portmeirion in Stoke on Trent. 23. Visiting the Friday Beer Company in Malvern Hills. IN THE WEST MIDLANDS

8 Small-scale producers must not be left out in the brave new world of SMART FARMING, Anthea has stressed. Her report for the Agriculture Committee identifies new technology in genetics, mechanics and computing as the key to making farming both more productive and more sustainable. Technology is the way to feed the world and save the planet, she told fellow MEPs. Daniel says the EU Commission was wrong to order the UK government to end a TAX EXEMPTION FOR SMALL CIDER PRODUCERS. To qualify you have to make less than 33 pints a day and this affects about 100 small producers in the West Midlands. The EU already recognises small vineyards and microbreweries and needs to treat cider the same. Daniel invested a lot of time convincing the EU of the need to protect this industry and the Commission is now reviewing its decision. Anthea launched her REFERENDUM ROADSHOW at a packed meeting in Ross on Wye. She has pledged to put forward factual and impartial information on the EU debate. Her fear is that voters feel short of simple and reliable information, especially when both sides in the referendum debate bombard them with contradictory messages. Questions have covered the net cost of the EU to Britain, its effect on trade and the impact of EU regulations. Constituents often ask Daniel about the unfairness of buying an online sports or entertainment package but when going on holiday they are geo-blocked and can t watch the product they have paid for. This is called PORTABILITY OF SPORTS RIGHTS and it was one of Daniel s first campaigns in Daniel is delighted the EU Commission has finally agreed to find a solution.

9 CAMPAIGNS 2015 CUTTING RED TAPE In her campaign against over-regulation, Anthea has won concessions and amendments ensuring rules are made locally where possible, and insisting that any new burden on business must be offset by slashing red tape elsewhere. CURRENT POSITION - Key part of UK/EU renegotiation. BRIDGNORTH CLIFF RAILWAY A rule change in Brussels would have meant the historic Bridgnorth attraction would have struggled to remain open. Daniel convinced colleagues that historic cableways should have an exemption. More on p5 CURRENT POSITION - JOB DONE. PORTABILITY OF SPORTS RIGHTS Daniel has been campaigning for constituents who pay for online sports and entertainment packages to use them while abroad. Daniel lobbied for a rule change to ban geo blocking. More on p8. CURRENT POSITION - EU Commission now published draft laws. MOBILE ROAMING CHARGES Thanks to Conservative MEPs like Anthea and Daniel there is an end to those nightmare holiday phone bills. Roaming charges end next year so what you pay in the UK you will pay abroad. CURRENT POSITION - JOB DONE. SCIENCE-BASED POLICY Anthea has worked tirelessly to make sure EU decisions are based principally on scientific evidence. On issues from horticulture to pest-control, she has fought for evidence-based instead of risked-based regulation to prevail. CURRENT POSITION: GREAT PROGRESS. But we remain vigilant. VATMOSS Anthea and Daniel have made the case for the many small & micro businesses that face burdensome bureaucracy when dealing with a different VAT system in every nation in the EU. CURRENT POSITION - EU reviewing rules with a view to simplification.

10 At the tail end of 2015 Daniel was asked to draft a report on NON TARIFF BARRIERS IN THE EU. We need to ensure that companies in the West Midlands can trade in another member state and not face unfair discrimination and barriers to entry that favour existing market players. Daniel is working closely with local companies and the Federation of Small Businesses to collate facts and figures for his report. Going to university is not always the best option. That is the key message of Anthea s BACKING FOR APPRENTICESHIPS. During a visit to Stokeon-Trent-based Goodwin PLC, an engineering company that specialises in mechanical and refractory engineering, she said practical experience was a great way to learn, while apprenticeships gave young people an income and helped them avoid debt early in life. Daniel enjoyed his visit to the CANNOCK CHASE AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY (AONB) - to discuss a range of issues with the RSPB, such as the important role the Birds and Habitats Directives have in underpinning nature conservation. The RSPB are running a host of exciting local partnerships which are contributing significantly to the local economy. Anthea was pleased to strike a deal for TACKLING DEADLY PLANT PESTS by stopping them arriving from abroad. In detailed three-way negotiations between the EU s Parliament, Commission and Council, she brokered an agreement to curb the influx of microscopic pests that can devastate plant species. It balanced a safety-first approach with enough flexibility to avoid needless burdens on the plant trade or agricultural trade.

11 ABOUT ANTHEA Anthea became an MEP in 2011, and is the Conservative Employment Spokesman. In July 2014, she was elected as the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Co-ordinator on the Employment & Social Affairs Committee in the Parliament. She also chairs the ECR s Policy Group on Better Regulation and Re-shoring. She is a successful business woman, and a Director of MCP Systems Consultants, an independent consultancy specialising in business intelligence systems. She is also a partner in the family s agricultural small-holding and vineyard. She gained valuable experience as a Parliamentary Candidate in the West Midlands region the heart of British manufacturing - and served for 8 years as a County Councillor. She is a former County Secretary of the Federation of Small Businesses and was responsible for a recent Parliamentary report titled How can Europe contribute to creating a hospitable environment for enterprises, businesses and start-ups to create jobs? danieldaltonmep.co.uk antheamcintyre.com ABOUT DANIEL Daniel has been an MEP since January 2015 and already has a reputation as something of a doer. He grew up in Kenilworth and is a graduate of both Coventry and Warwick Universities. Most notably he was a professional cricketer for Warwickshire County Cricket Club and ran his own cricket coaching company, working with many schools and clubs around the region. He still coaches in his spare time and has taught children in Rwanda as part of a Conservative Party initiative. As an MEP, Daniel is a member of the Single Market Committee and concentrates on aiding small businesses in the West Midlands and cutting red tape. In his first year in office he has championed the cause of small cider producers and fought against the abuse of the domestic pets passport scheme by unscrupulous east European animal smugglers. He is a keen advocate of a trade deal with the USA and wants to see talks begin on a similar deal with China.

12 LET ANTHEA AND DANIEL KNOW YOUR VIEWS Name Address Telephone Please tick this box if you would like to receive Anthea s & Daniel s regular s. The Conservatives are reforming and renegotiating our relationship with Europe before holding a referendum. Which of the following priorities are important to you? A Competitive Single Market Protect UK Financial Interests Protect our Borders Protect our Sovereignty End Waste and Fraud Comments Please return to; Anthea McIntyre MEP & Daniel Dalton MEP, Office S4, Berkeley House, 6-8 The Square, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. CV8 1EB antheamcintyre.com danieldaltonmep.co.uk How we use your information The data you provide will be retained by Anthea McIntyre MEP & Daniel Dalton MEP and the Conservative Party ( the data holders ) in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and related legislation. By providing your data to us, you are consenting to the data holders making contact with you in the future by telephone, text or other means, even though you may be registered with the Telephone Preference Service. Your data will not be sold or given to anyone not connected to the Conservative Party. If you do not want the information you give to us to be used in this way, or for us to contact you, please indicate by ticking the relevant boxes: Post SMS Phone Promoted by Anthea McIntyre MEP and Daniel Dalton MEP, European Conservatives and Reformists Group, 32 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3EU. Printed by Impact Print & Design Ltd, Impact House, Coldnose Road, Rotherwas Industrial Estate, Hereford. HR2 6JL.