Keep control
20 September 2006
DUP MEP Jim Allister QC is among a cross-party group of parliamentarians who have signed a letter in today's "Times" calling on the UK to refuse to give up its veto on an EU move to get Member States to give up their national control on critical criminal law issues.
The Times September 20, 2006
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-2365634.html
Keep control
Sir, On Friday John Reid will attend a meeting of his fellow EU home affairs and justice ministers. They will be asked to vote on proposals to remove the veto on issues currently under national control, including criminal law, criminal penalties and the judicial system.
Without a veto on these matters, Parliament and the British Government would cease to have control of the fight against crime within our own borders. Worse, the road would be open for the standardisation of the legal system, which would threaten habeas corpus, trial by jury and a host of protections guaranteed in British law but mostly absent on the Continent.
Unanimity is required in order to pass these proposals. For the good of democracy and freedom under the law, it is crucial that the Home Secretary exercises his vote against them.
SYED KAMALL, MEP (C);
JIM ALLISTER, MEP (DUP);
NIGEL FARAGE, MEP (UKIP);
GEOFFREY COX, QC, MP (C);
MARTIN CALLANAN, MEP (C);
ROGER HELMER, MEP (C);
DANIEL HANNAN, MEP (C);
DOUGLAS CARSWELL, MP (C);
DAVID DAVIES, MP (C);
PHILIP DAVIES, MP (C);
DAVID GAUKE, MP (C);
PHILIP HOLLOBONE, MP (C);
RICHARD SHEPHERD, MP (C);
BOB SPINK, MP (C);
SIR NICHOLAS WINTERTON, MP (C);
ANN WINTERTON, MP (C).
