The EU is here to stay... so have a say

Jun 3 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

THE European Union will soon have more say over how we live than ever before, yet voter turnout is declining at every poll. Adrian Pearson looks at why the EU should matter.

Who is who and what they are campaigning for in the up-coming election

Stephen Hughes, Labour

The region’s longest-standing MEP.

Currently the spokesman for Employment and Social Affairs for the entire Socialist Group and has taken a lead in securing a fairer deal for workers, including a new EU Directive to give temporary agency workers equal rights from day one in the workplace.

Fay Tinnion, Labour

A teacher and AQA examiner who has worked at Kenton school in Newcastle and Heworth Grange in Gateshead. Married to Steve, a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nick Wallis, Labour

A family court adviser working in the Teesside area. Married with two sons, Nick is a qualified social worker. He is also a member of the Labour Party’s National Policy Forum, the body which draws up the Party’s policies.

Martin Callanan, Conservative

A former project engineer at Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, first elected as an MEP in 1999. Martin sits on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee and is a member of the Campaign for Parliamentary Reform set up to make the EU more accountable.

Barbara Musgrave, Conservative

Former county and borough councillor in Northumberland. Promises to campaign to make the European Union open and answerable to voters, and for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Emma Moore, Conservative

Born 1981, Emma is the granddaughter of a sheep farmer on one side, with three generations of soldiers on the other. Emma’s family originally come from Benwell in Newcastle and she currently reads Economics at Durham.

Fiona Hall, Liberal Democrat

First elected in 2004 and has since helped steer climate change legislation through the Parliament. Says she has worked to give North East new and renewable technology companies a secure base for their investment and a real opportunity to create hundreds of new jobs.

Chris Foote Wood, Liberal Democrat

Former leader of Wear Valley Council and also the first Lib Dem councillor to represent the North East on the EU Committee of the Regions. Campaigned on the message that Britain is stronger when working with Europe rather than against it.

Neil Bradbury, Liberal Democrat

A charity manager and Northumberland County councillor, says he wants to ensure EU schemes such as the globalisation fund are available to help workers struggling in the recession.

Shirley Ford, Green Party

Born to North East parents, Shirley returned to her roots 11 years ago. She moved to South Shields to build a family with her husband. Working on Keep Metro Public campaign and opposed to possible incinerators South of the Tyne.

Iris Ryder, Green Party

Hartlepool born and bred, Iris and her children still live in the town. She is actively campaigning against the Government’s plans for second nuclear new power station and extended radioactive storage at Hartlepool.

Nic Best, Green Party

A councillor on Castle Morpeth Borough Council from 1999 until its abolition in April this year. Chairman of Northumberland Credit Union and regional policy officer for the campaign to protect rural England.

Gordon Parkin, UK Independence Party

Served eight years in the British Army, campaigning for an end "to the non-stop betrayal of our sovereign powers to the EU by successive governments of both political strip".

Sandra Allison, UKIP

Hartlepool UKIP councillor, says she knows "first hand the difficulties of bringing up a family on a budget, and also the problems of running a small business faced with red tape and bureaucracy".

John Tennant, UKIP

Currently acting as a researcher to John Whittaker, UKIP MEP. Said it was his "disgust at the mainstream parties’ disregard for real problems" that led him to join UKIP.

Ahmed Khan, Jury Team

A new party campaigning to reform politics. Mr Khan has lived and worked in the North East for the last 12 years.

In 2008 he was elected as an Independent Councillor in South Tyneside and represent the Beacon and Bents ward.

Jacqueline Riley, Jury Team

Claims the North East has "been ignored for too long" with voters taken for granted. Has raised the issue of support for the disabled and their carers as a result of looking after her autistic son.

Wants the common agricultural policy reformed.

Socialist Labour Party.

Led by Arthur Scargill, the party has called for more state intervention to save jobs in manufacturing and other areas, and has criticised bank bailouts.

Three North East candidates.

Michael York and John Roy Taylor, from Redcar in Cleveland, and James Dodsworth from Marske-by-Sea, also in Cleveland.

Christian Party, Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship

Three Candidates for the region, seeking to provide "a united Christian witness across the nation to ensure that the message of the Bible is heard and heard where it matters".

If they secure enough votes Don Heginbotham, a TV producer for a Christian faith channel, will be their first MEP.

Also standing are Daniel Parker and Coral Thompson.

English Democrats

Claim they will withdraw from the European Union and rejoining the European Free Trade Association, which they say will guarantee free trade with the EU while saving £63bn per year cost. Three candidates.

Frank Roseman, Allan White and Graham Robinson.

No2EU – Yes to Democracy.

Fielding three candidates in the North East.

Martin Levy – Newcastle trades council president

Hannah Walter – UNISON shop steward

Peter Pinkney – RMT activist

Pro Democracy: Libertas.eu

Five key campaign points, including changes to ensure only elected politicians can make EU laws, expenses to be disclosed, budget savings and referendums for all treaties.

Three North East candidates.

Ken Rollings, Alasdair Macleod and William Tremlett.

Adam Walker, British National Party

President of the Solidarity Trade Union a martial arts instructor. Calls for local people to have a preference on council housing lists.

Peter Mailer, BNP

Lives in rural Northumberland and ones two pubs, one in Yorkshire. Said he joined the party "to help save my country".

Ken Booth, BNP

Lived and worked in Newcastle upon Tyne all his life., former school parental governor.