John Baron

Conservative Party | Billericay and District

Points of View

Bromfords School

Recently I opened the new post-16 flexible learning centre for senior pupils at Bromfords School, Wickford. This is an exciting development because it provides extra research facilities and gives the school greater flexibility by allowing students to take exams when they are ready to, and to take more courses if they have the ability. The community also benefits as it will be able to access the building during the evening.

The centre was funded by Essex County Council, Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust and the school, who deserve our thanks, as do all those who worked on the development project.

Smoke and Mirrors

The Prime Minister has just signed the EU Constitution despite no democratic mandate to do so.

This Constitution will entrench, among other things, a centralist approach to economic policy which has resulted in recent years in a much slower EU growth rate and higher unemployment compared with both Britain and the US.

The Constitution will give Europe more control over criminal law, our social security system, our immigration and asylum systems, and our industrial relations laws – something the CBI has said could cost many jobs.

In short, Britain has lost its veto in 43 areas. Little surprise, then, that the British people know that it represents further salami-slicing of our sovereignty and do not want it.

So how is the Government going to get its way?

Firstly, they will delay the referendum to give themselves time to turn the tide of public opinion.

Then, the Prime Minister will attempt to mislead us just as he misled us over WMD and the Iraq War.

Proof of this comes from Mr. Derek Scott, Tony Blair’s former economic adviser in Downing Street for six years, who said in a speech only last week, “the Government’s case depends on persuading people that there are no alternatives to the Constitution on offer other than withdrawal from the EU, but there are.”

So there we have it – the Government’s line is that the only alternative to the Constitution is withdrawal. This is a nonsense. There is a middle course, and the Conservatives propose to work for a flexible Europe in which countries like Britain can reclaim powers from Brussels.

For example we will opt out of the Social Chapter, which is a threat to British jobs, and opt out of the Common Fisheries Policies, which is destroying communities.

Margaret Thatcher proved that if one was strong enough then concessions can be gained – we are still enjoying our budget rebate to this day.

We will also set a date for the referendum on the EU Constitution on the first day of Conservative Government.