Protectionism and "Buy American"

Posted by on Feb 4, 2009 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 8 comments I am glad to see that President Obama is having second thoughts over his protectionist “Buy American” clause to help revive his country’s flagging economy. He is now quoted as saying: “I agree that we can’t send a protectionist message. I want to see what kind of language we can work on this issue. I think it would be a mistake, though, at a time when worldwide trade is...
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Cod pieces and butter mountains

Posted by on Jan 30, 2009 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 9 comments This is my MEP Robert Sturdy’s latest report from Brussels and includes reforms of the Commons Fisheries Policy and butter mountains: The European Commission is muddying our waters again unnecessarily. This time, it is our recreational sea anglers who face the full extent of their ridiculous bureaucracy which could have a considerable impact in the Eastern region which I represent. It...
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Pesticides, Russian oil and the Czech presidency

Posted by on Jan 21, 2009 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 1 comment This is all in a week’s work for my MEP Robert Sturdy. Please read and enjoy his latest report from Strasbourg: R.I.P the British carrot. Yes, the nation’s third favourite culinary vegetable is quite possibly facing the chop. The big news came last week when the European Parliament voted for tough new rules governing the use of pesticides in European crop farming. The Parliament...
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UK govt urged to fight pesticide ban

Posted by on Jan 13, 2009 in Environment, Robert Sturdy MEP | 10 comments Disappointingly, Conservative MEPs, even with the support of the UK government and NFU, were today unable to prevent a ban on the use of a large number of pesticides in the European Union. The ban was approved by the European Parliament today, despite warnings from my MEP Robert Sturdy that an overzealous approach would reduce yields of a number of foods including carrots, cereals, potatoes,...
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Our charity champion and No 10 petition

Posted by on Dec 12, 2008 in Headway, Robert Sturdy MEP | 11 comments I wanted to update you with some great news. Our Headway Cambridgeshire patron John Hayes, a Shadow Minister, has won the prestigious parliamentary Charity Champion Award for disability. John was stunned and thrilled with the award and I was there with our CEO Andrew Gardner. John beat two very worthy competitors, man-of-the-moment Damian Green,  who supports a charity which helps children...
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Chairman of the board

Posted by on Nov 30, 2008 in Headway, Personal, Robert Sturdy MEP | 19 comments I’m afraid blogging is going to have to take a back seat between now and the end of the year as I focus on meeting a crucial deadline for my publisher. I also have important commitments as chair of trustees for Headway Cambridgeshire which supports adults with an acquired brain injury. Tomorrow I am in London attending a course for new chairs of charity trustees which is being held at the...
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Welcome the return of bendy cucumbers

Posted by on Nov 12, 2008 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 11 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy has welcomed the return of mis-shapen fruit and veg to our stores. Rules which dictate the size and shape of fruit and veg sold in the shops have today been scrapped by the EU’s management committee. It means that bendy cucumbers and nobbly carrots can be stocked again after they were banned following the introduction of EU-wide marketing standards which ensured only...
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