-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- The European Parliament is such a waste of money – or is it? | rationaldebate on Pay and Expenses statement
- stephen downs on Rebecca Taylor MEP: Medicinal regulation avoided but fight for ecigs not over yet
- Gazza on Rebecca Taylor MEP: Medicinal regulation avoided but fight for ecigs not over yet
- AdamN on Rebecca Taylor MEP: Medicinal regulation avoided but fight for ecigs not over yet
- Fergus Mason on Rebecca Taylor MEP: Medicinal regulation avoided but fight for ecigs not over yet
Archives
- May 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- January 2012
Categories
Meta
Monthly Archives: June 2016
International couples: clear rules in cases of divorce, legal separation or death
The property rights of 32 million citizens will be soon subject to clear rules in cases of divorce, legal separation or death in 18 Member States. The European Parliament has today approved a new legal framework to determine the jurisdict…
Posted in ALDE
Tagged Week News,JURI :: Legal Affairs
Comments Off on International couples: clear rules in cases of divorce, legal separation or death
Why I am voting REMAIN
- Above all, the EU is a political endeavour to create peace through trade and it has WORKED! My grandparents* (sadly no longer with us), lived through world war two and some of its horrors. The EU is the Europe that came after that and said “never again”.
- Being a key player in Brussels increases Britain’s standing in the world. Our global allies like the USA and Commonwealth countries appreciate our voice being in the room, and our very British pragmatism and level-headedness is appreciated by many of our European partners.
Despite the attempts of Leavers to do Britain down and paint us as a helpless victim of the rest of the EU, since 1999, the UK has been outvoted 2% of the time. So in fact we’re very good at getting British priorities accepted at EU level. We should be proud of this! Being outside the door when crucial decisions about our continent are being made would be a loss of control and influence for the UK.
- I believe in cooperation! In an interconnected world facing serious challenges, Britain can do much more by working together with our European neighbours to tackle the big issues like climate change, organised crime and terrorism.
- The UK economy benefits massively from being part of the world’s biggest single market. It’s not just about big corporations exporting good and more importantly services (8/10 British jobs) seamlessly, but also universities, the science sector, the tech sector, the green economy, the arts, farming and more.
It’s also about the billions of pounds of foreign direct investment from companies setting up EU operations in the UKand the many jobs and opportunities that creates.
- Worker’s rights including paid holidays, pension rights, parental leave and anti-discrimination rules are enhanced by EU membership. The EU sets minimum standards below which no decent country should fall; the UK is free to set higher standards. When many on the Leave side talk about “cutting red tape”; remember they mean worker’s rights.
- The EU has led the world on tackling climate change and protecting the environmentoften with Britain at the forefront. At home this has meant cleaner beaches and greater protection of our beautiful countryside and native wildlife.
BRITS DON’T QUIT!
SO LET’S VOTE REMAIN TO LEAD NOT LEAVE!
* If they were, as committed Pro-Europeans, they’d be voting REMAIN….
Posted in Blog
Comments Off on Why I am voting REMAIN
Why I am voting REMAIN
- Above all, the EU is a political endeavour to create peace through trade and it has WORKED! My grandparents* (sadly no longer with us), lived through world war two and some of its horrors. The EU is the Europe that came after that and said “never again”.
- Being a key player in Brussels increases Britain’s standing in the world. Our global allies like the USA and Commonwealth countries appreciate our voice being in the room, and our very British pragmatism and level-headedness is appreciated by many of our European partners.
Despite the attempts of Leavers to do Britain down and paint us as a helpless victim of the rest of the EU, since 1999, the UK has been outvoted 2% of the time. So in fact we’re very good at getting British priorities accepted at EU level. We should be proud of this! Being outside the door when crucial decisions about our continent are being made would be a loss of control and influence for the UK.
- I believe in cooperation! In an interconnected world facing serious challenges, Britain can do much more by working together with our European neighbours to tackle the big issues like climate change, organised crime and terrorism.
- The UK economy benefits massively from being part of the world’s biggest single market. It’s not just about big corporations exporting good and more importantly services (8/10 British jobs) seamlessly, but also universities, the science sector, the tech sector, the green economy, the arts, farming and more.
It’s also about the billions of pounds of foreign direct investment from companies setting up EU operations in the UKand the many jobs and opportunities that creates.
- Worker’s rights including paid holidays, pension rights, parental leave and anti-discrimination rules are enhanced by EU membership. The EU sets minimum standards below which no decent country should fall; the UK is free to set higher standards. When many on the Leave side talk about “cutting red tape”; remember they mean worker’s rights.
- The EU has led the world on tackling climate change and protecting the environmentoften with Britain at the forefront. At home this has meant cleaner beaches and greater protection of our beautiful countryside and native wildlife.
BRITS DON’T QUIT!
SO LET’S VOTE REMAIN TO LEAD NOT LEAVE!
* If they were, as committed Pro-Europeans, they’d be voting REMAIN….
Posted in Blog
Comments Off on Why I am voting REMAIN
Corporate taxation: MEPs call for tax haven black list, patent box rules, CCCTB and more
Members of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Tax Rulings II have this evening adopted a report calling for a number of measures to put in place a fairer and more transparent corporate tax regime in the European Union.
Posted in ALDE
Tagged Week News,Tax
Comments Off on Corporate taxation: MEPs call for tax haven black list, patent box rules, CCCTB and more
Corporate taxation: MEPs call for tax haven black list, patent box rules, CCCTB and more
Members of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Tax Rulings II have this evening adopted a report calling for a number of measures to put in place a fairer and more transparent corporate tax regime in the European Union.
Posted in ALDE
Tagged Week News,Tax
Comments Off on Corporate taxation: MEPs call for tax haven black list, patent box rules, CCCTB and more
Corporate taxation: MEPs call for tax haven black list, patent box rules, CCCTB and more
Members of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Tax Rulings II have this evening adopted a report calling for a number of measures to put in place a fairer and more transparent corporate tax regime in the European Union.
Posted in ALDE
Tagged Week News,Tax
Comments Off on Corporate taxation: MEPs call for tax haven black list, patent box rules, CCCTB and more
EU free movement is NOT unconditional!
Judging from media coverage of the referendum, many Brits would be excused for believing that EU free movement is absolutely unconditional and that the UK has no right to refuse entry to any EU national or prevent them living here long term. Hence the accusations of “uncontrolled” EU migration.
This is false, because the rules are quite clear that EU citizens can be refused entry to the UK on the (rather broad) grounds of public policy, public security or public health. Decisions have to be taken on a case-by-case basis entry can be refused if an individual represents a current and serious threat to the UK.
The Home Office recently confirmed that since 2010, 6,500 EU citizens were refused entry to the UK (see article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36101449).
So let’s be clear: THE UNITED KINGDOM CAN AND DOES REFUSE TO ALLOW SOME EU CITIZENS TO ENTRY THE COUNTRY.
Secondly, EU law is equally clear that an EU citizen can only stay in another EU country for longer than three months if:
- The person can show they are working (employed or self-employed) or have sufficient resources to support themselves e.g. via a pension or other income/savings
- The person has comprehensive sickness insurance to cover their healthcare needs e.g. valid European Health Insurance Card enabling the NHS to claim back the cost of treatment or private health insurance
So this means that EU CITIZENS HAVE NO RIGHT TO STAY IN THE UK LONGER THAN THREE MONTHS IF THEY AREN’T WORKING OR CAN’T SUPPORT THEMSELVES.
Factsheet on the relevant legislation: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourservice/en/displayFtu.html?ftuId=FTU_2.1.3.html
EU CITIZENS COME TO THE UK TO WORK AND STUDIES SHOW THEY PAY MORE IN TAXES THAN THEY RECEIVE IN BENEFITS AND PUBLIC SERVICES. So in fact they make a net contribution to the UK economy.
A UCL study showed that from 2001-2011, EU citizens as a whole made a £5 billion net contribution to the UK economy: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/1114/051114-economic-impact-EU-immigration
Rapid Formations study found that EU citizens contribute 13.5% more to the UK than they receive in benefits or public services: http://www.cityam.com/213058/eu-immigrants-contribute-463-second-uk-economy
CONTRARY TO TABLOID MYTH, EU CITIZENS CAN’T COME TO THE UK AND IMMEDIATELY CLAIM BENEFITS, but must be genuinely resident in the UK and have contributed in order to pass what is called the “habitual residence test” which requires:
- The person is currently working or self-employed and earning enough to pay national insurance contributions
- The person is self-sufficient e.g. via a pension or savings, or a student
- The person has been living in the UK for at least five years is therefore a permanent resident
Failing the habitual residence test means a person is refused all means-tested benefitssuch as job seekers allowance, tax credits, housing benefit etc. EU job seekers cannot claim means tested benefits for the first three months and are heavily restricted (it’s nearly impossible) to claim after three months, even if they have a verified job offer.
More information can be found here:
Following David Cameron’s renegotiations, in future EU citizens will have to wait four years before being able to claim in-work benefits such as housing benefit in the same way as Brits do:
EU CITIZENS ARE ALSO LESS LIKELY TO CLAIM BENEFITS THAN NATIVE BORN BRITS.
Official government figures showed that in 2015, EU nationals made up 6% of the workforce, but only 2.2% of out of work benefit claims. British And of course some of those EU citizens claiming out of work benefits will have lived and paid taxes in the UK for many years, so it’s only fair that they can claim if they lose their job.
DWP data:
In terms of in-work benefits like child tax credits and housing benefit, EU workers make up around 7% of claims. See UK Parliament report: http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06955.pdf
Posted in Blog
Comments Off on EU free movement is NOT unconditional!
EU free movement is NOT unconditional!
Judging from media coverage of the referendum, many Brits would be excused for believing that EU free movement is absolutely unconditional and that the UK has no right to refuse entry to any EU national or prevent them living here long term. Hence the accusations of “uncontrolled” EU migration.
This is false, because the rules are quite clear that EU citizens can be refused entry to the UK on the (rather broad) grounds of public policy, public security or public health. Decisions have to be taken on a case-by-case basis entry can be refused if an individual represents a current and serious threat to the UK.
The Home Office recently confirmed that since 2010, 6,500 EU citizens were refused entry to the UK (see article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36101449).
So let’s be clear: THE UNITED KINGDOM CAN AND DOES REFUSE TO ALLOW SOME EU CITIZENS TO ENTRY THE COUNTRY.
Secondly, EU law is equally clear that an EU citizen can only stay in another EU country for longer than three months if:
- The person can show they are working (employed or self-employed) or have sufficient resources to support themselves e.g. via a pension or other income/savings
- The person has comprehensive sickness insurance to cover their healthcare needs e.g. valid European Health Insurance Card enabling the NHS to claim back the cost of treatment or private health insurance
So this means that EU CITIZENS HAVE NO RIGHT TO STAY IN THE UK LONGER THAN THREE MONTHS IF THEY AREN’T WORKING OR CAN’T SUPPORT THEMSELVES.
Factsheet on the relevant legislation: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourservice/en/displayFtu.html?ftuId=FTU_2.1.3.html
EU CITIZENS COME TO THE UK TO WORK AND STUDIES SHOW THEY PAY MORE IN TAXES THAN THEY RECEIVE IN BENEFITS AND PUBLIC SERVICES. So in fact they make a net contribution to the UK economy.
A UCL study showed that from 2001-2011, EU citizens as a whole made a £5 billion net contribution to the UK economy: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/1114/051114-economic-impact-EU-immigration
Rapid Formations study found that EU citizens contribute 13.5% more to the UK than they receive in benefits or public services: http://www.cityam.com/213058/eu-immigrants-contribute-463-second-uk-economy
CONTRARY TO TABLOID MYTH, EU CITIZENS CAN’T COME TO THE UK AND IMMEDIATELY CLAIM BENEFITS, but must be genuinely resident in the UK and have contributed in order to pass what is called the “habitual residence test” which requires:
- The person is currently working or self-employed and earning enough to pay national insurance contributions
- The person is self-sufficient e.g. via a pension or savings, or a student
- The person has been living in the UK for at least five years is therefore a permanent resident
Failing the habitual residence test means a person is refused all means-tested benefitssuch as job seekers allowance, tax credits, housing benefit etc. EU job seekers cannot claim means tested benefits for the first three months and are heavily restricted (it’s nearly impossible) to claim after three months, even if they have a verified job offer.
More information can be found here:
Following David Cameron’s renegotiations, in future EU citizens will have to wait four years before being able to claim in-work benefits such as housing benefit in the same way as Brits do:
EU CITIZENS ARE ALSO LESS LIKELY TO CLAIM BENEFITS THAN NATIVE BORN BRITS.
Official government figures showed that in 2015, EU nationals made up 6% of the workforce, but only 2.2% of out of work benefit claims. British And of course some of those EU citizens claiming out of work benefits will have lived and paid taxes in the UK for many years, so it’s only fair that they can claim if they lose their job.
DWP data:
In terms of in-work benefits like child tax credits and housing benefit, EU workers make up around 7% of claims. See UK Parliament report: http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06955.pdf
Posted in Blog
Comments Off on EU free movement is NOT unconditional!
Young people & Europe
Here is the unabridged version of my letter to the Evening Standard which was published last week:Dear Evening Standard,The 13 June letters about young people seem to think EU membership is only about opportunities to work, study and travel across Euro…
Posted in Blog
Comments Off on Young people & Europe
Young people & Europe
Here is the unabridged version of my letter to the Evening Standard which was published last week:Dear Evening Standard,The 13 June letters about young people seem to think EU membership is only about opportunities to work, study and travel across Euro…
Posted in Blog
Comments Off on Young people & Europe