A lady can never have too many shoes …

Posted by Ellee on Jan 11, 2011 in Blog, PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 6 comments I have a pile of colourful shoes to choose from for every occasion and outfit, and I am sure I am not alone. So it is good news to hear that shoes will now be cheaper, thanks to the ending of the so-called ‘Shoes War’ which my MEP Robert Sturdy has campaigned against as Conservative International Trade spokesman in the European Parliament. It appears that the punitive EU duties on the...
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Illegal timber harvests, AIDS treatment and bankers’ bonuses – a week in the life of Robert Sturdy MEP

Posted by Ellee on Jul 20, 2010 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 0 comments This is Eastern Region MEP Robert’s Sturdy’s latest report from the European Parliament sitting in Strasbourg, which tackled issues including illegally harvested timber, AIDS treatment and new rules for bankers’ bonuses: It is often the case that the plenary sessions in Strasbourg before the European Parliament’s summer recess are extremely busy, and last week was no...
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Why working in Tenerife is not an MEPs “junket”

Posted by Ellee on Mar 27, 2010 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 2 comments When you are an MEP you have to attend meeting throughout the European Union. And that includes Tenerife. So today’s story front page “exclusive” splash in The Express, “Climate MEPs live it up in Tenerife” is way off the mark and misleading. My MEP Robert Sturdy is one of those who has travelled there. After all, Tenerife is part of Spain which is in the European...
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Robert Sturdy supports ivory ban

Posted by Ellee on Jan 29, 2010 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 3 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy is urging the UK government to support a ban prohibiting the sale of existing ivory stock by two African countries as he fears it could lead to the slaughter of more elephants and possible extinction. Robert, who sits on both the International Trade Committee and the Sustainable Hunting Intergroup where this has been discussed, believes the European Parliament should...
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No wonder supermarkets are so rich

Posted by Ellee on Jan 20, 2010 in Personal, PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 8 comments I have a savoury tooth, rather than sweet, and often enjoy a slice of wholemeal bread (preferably organic) topped with crumbly cottage cheese (to keep the calories down). At least, it always used to be crumbly, but now it looks more like stodgy looking porridge. I’ve just opened a pot and was forced to scoop out several large spoonfuls of milk from the top before I could get to the cheese,...
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Cheaper bananas thanks to EU trade deal

Posted by Ellee on Dec 15, 2009 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 2 comments The price of bananas – the favourite British fruit – is set to fall following an EU trade agreement which has been welcomed by my MEP Robert Sturdy. Robert, international trade spokesman for European Conservatives and Reformists group, welcomed the EU’s move to end the 15 year banana war with Latin America, but said the money promised to compensate African, Caribbean and Pacific countries ...
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Will you eat less meat to reduce climate change?

Posted by Ellee on Dec 3, 2009 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 10 comments Sir Paul McCartney rolls into the European Parliament in Brussels today with the “Meat Free Monday” campaign he launched with daughters Mary and Stella. He wants everyone to avoid eating meat one day every week in order to fight climate change. My MEP Robert Sturdy, who sits on the Agriculture Committee, has taken the ex-Beatle to task, and disagrees with the points he raises, thinking they...
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Robert Sturdy accuses EU of “a classic fudge” over top two new jobs

Posted by Ellee on Nov 20, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 8 comments My Eastern Region MEP Robert Sturdy has accused the EU of “a classic fudge” over the appointment of its first president and foreign minister, the two top jobs in Europe. The Belgian Prime Minister, Herman Van Rompuy, is the first president elected by European leaders under the Lisbon Treaty, while Baroness Ashton,  former Trade Commissioner, is the newly appointed High Representative...
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European Commission plans to end cash refunds on shoddy goods

Posted by Ellee on Nov 5, 2009 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 0 comments It seems we could lose our right to a cash refund on shoddy goods as there are plans afoot to harmonise EU legislation as refunds are not offered in other European countries. My MEP Robert Sturdy has objected to European Commission plans which would abolish consumers’ rights to a refund for faulty goods, bringing legislation in line with other EU countries. The EU’s Consumer Rights...
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Robert Sturdy, dairy subsidies and over production

Posted by Ellee on Oct 20, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP, updates | 3 comments Have you been following the latest news about thousands of protesting dairy farmers marching to Luxembourg where EU farm ministers were meeting? Their concerns were based on the low price of milk, saying it costs more to produce than they can sell it for. Most of the EU’s member states have been pressing for financial aid after the global economic downturn reduced demand, and this has just...
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Scientific study crucial for GMO decision

Posted by Ellee on Oct 1, 2009 in Environment, PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 3 comments Each Member State in the European Union will decide whether it approves growing GM crops in its own country. My MEP Robert Sturdy, who is a farmer and sits on the Agriculture Committee, believes it is crucial that full scientific impact tests are carried out to enable rational decision making. It is impossible to argue against that, and we should not let scaremongers dominate the serious debate...
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Britain gets hammered over EU rebate

Posted by Ellee on Aug 25, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 9 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy has today condemned the Labour government for selling out the UK taxpayer by agreeing to a massive increase of almost 60% in Britain’s financial contribution to the EU. He believes that a Conservative government would never have given away a large chunk of taxpayers’ money to the EU for no return. He has already had media interest after we issued a press release...
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Robert Sturdy calls for unity following leadership election

Posted by Ellee on Jul 15, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 8 comments My Conservative MEP Robert Sturdy has called for unity after expressing disappointment in the way in which the election for the leader of the new group of European Conservatives and Reformist was conducted.  The original plans for Conservatives suffered a setback following the election of rogue candidate Edward McMillan-Scott, an accomplished and well-respected Tory MEP, as an independent...
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Robert Sturdy and the new Conservative group

Posted by Ellee on Jul 6, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 2 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy has had the following letter published in tonight’s Cambridge News about the role of Conservatives in their new European group. Some people will be aware that David Cameron has withdrawn the Conservatives from the EPP-ED and led the formation of a new group, the European Conservatives and Reformists, a move that has generated significant misinformation in the press....
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Bendy cucumbers are back

Posted by Ellee on Jul 1, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 8 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy has welcomed the return of misshapen fruit and veg to our stores from today when the EU finally lifts its ban on wonky fruit and veg. It means that 26 types of fruit and veg, including bendy cucumbers and nobbly carrots, can be stocked again after their ban following the introduction of EU-wide marketing standards which ensured only the finest-looking produce reached...
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A video tour of the European Parliament

Posted by Ellee on Apr 10, 2009 in Headway, PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP, video | 2 comments I thought you might be interested in having a look at some scenes I recorded of the European Parliament in Brussels. When I last visited four years ago, there was much building work taking place to provide accommodation for MEPs and staff from the new eastern European countries. That has now been completed and two new office blocks are linked to the main Altiero Spinelli building on Rue Wiertz...
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Robert Sturdy urges G20 leaders to promote free trade

Posted by Ellee on Mar 29, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP, video | 2 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy is a key international trade spokesman and in this video he explains why we need to increase free trade across borders globally and do away with protectionism to help recover from the recession. Is that what G20 world leaders will have in mind when they meet this...
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The “shame” of having cancer

Posted by Ellee on Mar 24, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP, video | 5 comments The “shame” and “embarrassment” some people feel about admitting to having cancer has been described in this video by Jola Gore-Booth, founder of europacolon. “There’s taboo of cancer, there’s still embarrassment. People do not want to admit that they have cancer in Eastern European countries, you are ashamed of it. It means that God thinks you a bad...
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A quick trip to Brussels

Posted by Ellee on Mar 17, 2009 in Headway, Robert Sturdy MEP | 5 comments I’ve just returned from a quick trip to Brussels where I met my MEP Robert Sturdy’s fantastic team for the first time, Neeley, Christine and Alex. Today Robert hosted a manifesto launch for europacolon, raising awareness about colorectal cancer which many people find difficult to talk about because of the delicate area of body affected. But it is estimated this causes 10% of cancer...
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Global poor must be G20 priority

Posted by Ellee on Mar 13, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 7 comments World finance leaders meeting to discuss next month’s G20 summit and thrash out the global economic crisis have been sent a clear message from my MEP Robert Sturdy – and I totally endorse every word. In today’s Guardian, he has had a letter published stating that the global poor must be the G20 priority: The G20 summit has the opportunity to make it clear that short-term aid and...
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Pollution control and the agricultural industry

Posted by Ellee on Mar 11, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 8 comments A shake-up of the EU’s Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control directive has a direct impact on poultry and pig farmers, as well as the greenhouse sector. My MEP Robert Sturdy has expressed concern over some of its aspects in this press release just issued: Euro-MP Robert Sturdy urged caution over a new pollution control directive which will regulate the agricultural industry in the...
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The nonsense about labels with country of origin

Posted by Ellee on Feb 17, 2009 in News, Robert Sturdy MEP | 6 comments It seems a nonsense to me that every item of clothing I am wearing states its country of origin on a stitched in label. I’m afraid to say they come from less than glamorous locations -my favourite fuchsia pink cardi from M & S was made in Vietnam, while my black Wallis skirt was stitched up in Romania. My crisp white shirt had an exotic start in Malaysia while my stunning black leather...
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Impact of pesticides’ ban

Posted by Ellee on Feb 10, 2009 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 2 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy fought tooth and nail to try and persuade his colleagues in Brussels to see sense over voting for the EU’s pesticides’ ban without having an impact assessment, warning it could affect our future food security. Unfortunately, he was not successful. He even petitioned 10 Downing Street. He has just issued this latest press release on the controversial issue, stating...
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