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		Builders bums still under threat after UKIP and Labour support new EU law Friday, 9th September 2005 STRASBOURG -- Conservative MEPs today narrowly failed in their attempt to scrap the infamous "sunshine directive" - because UKIP MEPs voted against an amendment which would have removed natural sunlight altogether from the scope of a draft EU law at the European Parliament in Strasbourg this afternoon UKIP's ten MEPs voted against this key amendment, which was tabled by the Conservatives. The amendment achieved 361 votes, with 296 against, failing by just six votes to reach the "qualified majority" level of 367 votes required to amend legislation in a second reading. Conservative MEPs however achieved a significant victory by persuading a majority of MEPs to support a fall-back compromise amendment which proposed that the issue be left to member states to decide. Labour MEPs fought against this key principle of subsidiarity but were outvoted. Speaking from Strasbourg today, East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer said: "We achieved a great victory today. But our victory would have been complete if MEPs from UKIP, who boast that they are the champions of freedom against EU intrusion, had not actively voted to keep natural sunlight within this directive. They have much to answer for, and have let UK businesses down’ "Conservatives support the promotion of health and safety for workers exposed to artificial radiation from, for example, computer screens. But to extend this to monitoring natural sunlight is totally over the top. It is now up to the UK Presidency, which has lamely gone along with this proposal up until now, to start giving a firm lead on this issue. Businesses across the EU should not be burdened by yet more red tape."