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Speeches & Articles Click on the headline to see the text in full. An Appeal to Reason - 29th April 2008 Nigel (Lord) Lawson, a former very distinguished Chancellor of the Exchequer (and also former MP for my own constituency of Blaby/South Leics), has written a splendid new book on climate. He held a launch and book-signing event in Leicester in April. He is also, by the way, a top-class economist. Immigration - Speech to Cambridge Union Society - Thursday, 24th April 2008 At a conservative estimate it is some forty-three years since I stood in this chamber. I was delighted to receive the Society's invitation. All I can say, Mr. President, is "What took you so long?" I was on a flight to Strasbourg recently, doing the Telegraph cross-word, and wrestling with a clue that read "Immigration policy, 4-4". The solution was "Open Door". And sadly, that reflects the reality of British immigration policy today. Galileo GPS - Plenary Speech - Wednesday, 23rd April 2008 I, too, voted against the Barsi-Pataky report. This is simply a political vanity project, a bit like the euro, and like the euro it has no economic and no technical justification. It is unnecessary; it is redundant; it is already becoming obsolescent. Adapting to climate change in Europe - Plenary Speech - Thursday, 10th April 2008 I have four quick questions on climate change. Firstly, is global warming happening? Answer: no, the world has got slightly cooler over the last 10 years and the rate of cooling is accelerating. Secondly, is it caused by mankind? Answer: no, there is increasing scientific evidence to show that what climate change we see is part of natural cycles. Croatia – progress report - Plenary Speech - Wednesday, 9th April 2008 Last year, I spent a very intensive week in Croatia in meetings with diplomats, academics, lawyers, businessmen, chambers of commerce and the media. I got a very clear picture of a country that does not have a proper market economy and a country that has far too much government engagement in the judiciary, in the media and in business. £600: the price of Free Speech in Strasbourg - Thursday, 13th March 2008 I have blogged previously about our demonstration for a referendum, in the parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg in December, and the subsequent disciplinary hearings for fourteen Members, including myself. I have been waiting several weeks for the Sword of Damocles to fall. The people have spoken - Plenary Speech - Wednesday, 12th March 2008 The ratification of the Renamed EU Constitution threatens the democratic legitimacy of the European project itself. The peoples of France and Holland rejected the Constitution. Yet it has now come back with a new name, and with what Angela Merkel called "cosmetic changes". The Sophistry of Richard Corbett - Tuesday, 11th March 2008 During the parliament's February Strasbourg session, we voted the Corbett report on the Lisbon Treaty (aka the Renamed EU Constitution). There was an amendment that simply said "This house will recognise the outcome of the Irish Referendum" (which takes place soon). I Want a Referendum - Rally Speech - Wednesday, 27th February 2008 It's great to be here with you today, and I congratulate the organisers for an excellent event. I was heartened to walk down the line of people queuing outside the Houses of Parliament to lobby their MPs -- it was so long that I had to give up and get back here before I got to the end. The crowd in this room now speaks for itself. No democratic legitimacy - Plenary Speech - Wednesday, 20th February 2008 Today, the European project abandons any claim to democratic legitimacy. Today we will vote through the Renamed Constitution, in an act that shows monstrous contempt for European citizens and Democratic values. An example of damaging regulation - February 13 2008 I am concerned about the impact that the EU's inclusion of aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme will have, especially on budget airlines. It gets slightly technical, so I asked John Hanlon of the European Low Fares Airline Association to set out the airlines' case. Conservative MEPs in the EPP - Two down; 25 to go - Conservative Home - February 1 2008 At a "Mini-Plenary" in Brussels on Jan 31st, my good friend and colleague Dan Hannan MEP was expelled from the EPP group, in circumstances uncannily similar to my own expulsion three years earlier. Bali - Plenary Speech - Wednesday, 30th January 2008 I understand that on the day the Bali Climate Conference commenced, there were so many private jets at Bali's airport that they ran out of parking space. Thus do our achievements fall short of our aspirations. Previous articles from this section 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 |