From Richard Howitt MEP

Your Labour Euro MP for the East of England

Please distribute at your General Committee meeting and to other interested party members

In this edition Page 2 Tories defend bankers bonuses Page 3 Richard dances Gangnam Style! Back Page Labour by-election victories Also in the Constituency

Britain's "cost-of-living crisis" highlighted by Ed Miliband at Labour Party Conference, is leaving British people struggling more than most in Europe according to Richard Howitt MEP. Richard produced figures showing that Britain is suffering:-

One of the biggest drops in real wages - shrinking

by 3 per cent since the General Election, with only the Netherlands, Cyprus and crisis-hit Greece worse.1 The highest ratio of spending cuts to tax increases of any austerity programme in Europe. 2 Ed Miliband speaks at the Eastern Region Reception at Labour Party The highest diesel fuel prices in Europe.3 The highest costs for childcare of any EU country, as Conference, watched on stage by Richard and by Luton South MP Gavin Shuker. a barrier to work.4 The fastest rising prices compared to every other EU country. 5 The most expensive cost of housing in Europe, more than double compared to second -placed France.6

"In fact a European-wide survey shows a bigger number of British people saying poverty and inequality is getting worse compared to every other European country," commented Richard.7 Watch Richards speech to the 2013 Labour Party Conference at http://on.fb.me/1i9jlIf
1 bit.ly/17tPvvB 2 bit.ly/17T4CiX 3 bit.ly/1715NcV 4 bit.ly/1btP03P 5 bit.ly/1btPabu 6 bit.ly/1b01cQc 7 bit.ly/1gIXVCy

As Human Rights Spokesperson for the European Parliament's Socialist and Democrat MEPs, Richard had the enormous privilege of helping present the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought to Aung San Suu Kyi, (see picture left). The Burmese democracy leader was only able to receive the award 23 years after it was agreed, because of her years in house arrest under the country's military dictatorship.

As Richard and his fellow Labour Euro MPs voted to switch EU spending to target jobs and growth, two of our East Tory MEPs voted against1 and were joined by all our Tory and UKIP MEPs voting against targeting EU funds to help deprived areas and to combat unemployment2. Our Tory, Lib Dem and UKIP MEPs combined to weaken Labour-backed proposals to increase graphic health warnings to 65% of cigarette packets3. Conservative and UKIP MEPs backed Big Tobacco by voting down measures to ban slim cigarettes4, which are targeted at young women, and to block the regulation of electronic cigarettes to the same high standard as nicotine gums and patches 5.
Richard backed the Ca mbridge-based Cancer Research C a m p a i g n , demonstrating flavoured cigarettes aimed at the young, which will now be banned thanks to Labour votes.

Richard's campaign on behalf of two sons from Manea, Ca drug overdose from an incompetent German doctor, saw better checks on qualifications, a minimum list of compet

East Tory and UKIP MEPs voted against EU regulation of medical devices following the scandal of defective breast implants6. Our Lib Dem MEP joined them in voting against the highest safety rules for urgent implants including artificial hips7. Our Tory MEPs voted against calling for agreement of global carbon emission targets at the next UN Climate Change Conference8. East Conservative and UKIP MEPs voted against making environmental impact assessments a condition of any fracking project 9. The East UKIP Euro MP was one of only 29 MEPs to oppose a guaranteed right of access to a lawyer and access to a consulate for those arrested abroad10. The Tory-led Government has challenged European Parliament decisions in favour of a Robin Hood Tax and of capping bankers' bonuses by lodging cases at the European Court of Justice. "Cameron is both wrong and hypocritical," said Richard11.
1 bit.ly/1bcIciD (page 11) 3 bit.ly/1HF0Bm4 (page 56) 5 bit.ly/1HF0Bm4 (page 124) 7 bit.ly/1hF13AM (page 49) 9 bit.ly/1cU389Q (page 63) 2 bit.ly/1bcIciD (page 31 & 33) 4 bit.ly/1HF0Bm4 (page 70) 6 bit.ly/1hF13AM (page 49) 8 http://bit.ly/HY3HRz (page 371) 10 bit.ly/1aTrGhG (page 13) 11 bit.ly/18rflv6

Richard told the parliamentary debate: "Although I join

changes, the doctor responsible is still registered for prac their case to the European Court of Human Rights, and t this case is achieved."

In the annual debate on Europe's common foreign

policy, Richard outlined the case against British Tory isolationism. An edited version of his speech was published by Labour List at bit.ly/1g54UEx6. Also as Labour's European Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Richard spoke in a parliamentary debate on the crisis of Syrian refugees.

Richard and his fellow candidates for the 2014 European Elections have been speaking at CLPs throughout the region during the Autumn to discuss the campaign. Richard has already spoken at meetings in Broxbourne, Peterborough, Waveney, Ipswich, Norwich North, Bedford and Luton. Read Richards article on Labours approach to the elections on the British Influence website at bit.ly/171Ilwr

The Government is wilfully ignoring the costly lessons of the CJD, e-coli and horsemeat scandals according to Richard, after Conservatives pushed through proposals in the European Parliament to end physical inspections of carcasses in slaughter houses. Backing the campaign of the Unison trade union, Richard warned: "Inspectors tell me

relying on visual-only inspections will mean cancerous abscesses, tuberculosis and lesions will end up being eaten in sausages and pies."
Richard showed the local meat industry supporting him, during visits to Lamberts Abattoir in Eye, Suffolk (see photo) and J.E. Howard, Butcher's on the Queen's Estate in Sandringham, Norfolk.

ambs whose father was killed after receiving a lethal w a new European law passed last month to require encies and clarifying the right to test language skills.

n David Gray's sons Stuart and Rory to welcome the ctice in Germany. They have now been forced to take there will be no peace for the family until justice in

New collaboration between Essex Police with Colchester Gateway and Chelmsford MENCAP to better report hate crimes a g a i n s t disabled people, saw Richard visit both, as part of proposals he is drawing up for a European Parliament Richard is taught to dance Gangnam Style with report on learning disabled members in Chelmsford. disabled women. Our Labour Euro MP also took the message to MENCAP projects in Hatfield and Huntingdon, to call on police forces there to do the same. Earlier Richard hosted a visit to the European Parliament from Norfolk's 'Equal Lives' group, exposing the risk of cuts forcing disabled people back in to large institutions.

Voted Voted

to use EU data protection laws to oppose blacklisting of workers for trade union activities. to outlaw market abuse following the Libor bank rate setting scandal. for EU legislation to outlaw exploitative zero hours contracts.

Called

Helped to Backed

agree European plans for supervising the conduct of banks. buyers. new rules to limit the risks for new home

Voted

to ban toxic substances from batteries.

Richard meets Leader Cllr George Nobbs as part of efforts to boost European funds to Labour-led Norfolk County Council. Earlier he visited the county's EU-funded Digital Heritage Project in Norwich, preserving home-made wartime films made on both sides of the Channel.

Helped set

new maximum flight times for airline pilots and cabin crew. activists in Russia. at the arrest of 30 Greenpeace

Expressed concern Launched

an inquiry into reports of illegal surveillance by US intelligence in Europe.

Richard and his fellow European candidates joined in the successful byelection campaigns in Thurrock (above), Waveney and in Hitchin.

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls takes the phone orders and Richard writes them down, during a small business visit to Surma Takeaway, Stevenage.

Richard and the newly re-selected Labour parliamentary candidate Kerry Pollard joined the Unison day of action against privatisation of the probation service in St Albans.

Richard joined 12 EU-funded trainees at Waveney not-for-profit "Bright Green," installing energy insulation in homes in Harbour ward, Lowestoft.

Helped

launch local appeals to fight heart disease in Hitchin and in Diss. Reacting to the shocking reports of sex abuse at the Yarls Wood detention centre, was Speaker at Bedford Refugee and Asylum Support Service AGM. Visited JJBA book-keepers in Coggeshall, Essex to show how European action will help a campaign against cyber-crime on one-in-ten of Federation of Small Business members. Harvested Halloween pumpkins at the EU-funded Westfield Children's Centre in Watford. Gave a keynote speech at Norfolks Burston Strike School Rally. Reported to the Essex Labour Campaign Forum meeting in Chelmsford and to the Regional Board meeting held in Harlow. Attended fundraisers in Luton South with Alan Johnson MP and the Stevenage Labour Garden Party. Welcomed EU funding towards Colchester film festival. Took part in the anniversary of the EU-funded Dallow Community Centre in Luton.

Hosted

the Cambs-based Internet Watch Foundation at a Brussels conference on cutting funds to online child abuse images. In his role as Corporate Social Responsibility Rapporteur, co-hosted a visit of Indian businesses to Prospects College in Basildon. Addressed University of East Anglia Labour students. Spoke out on Southend and Colchester Hospitals being forced to undertake 1million private work. Protested at the closure of Southwold Recycling Centre. Answered questions from Cambridgeshire school students. Joined organisers of the street child World Cup from over 20 countries, in Cambridge. Opened the 65th anniversary of the Cranfield, Bedsbased manufacturing company BHR. As national Vice-President, promoted the RSCPAs Freedom Foods label at a farm in Wimpole, Cambs. Opened the Eastern Region Labour Party preconference briefing held in Cambridge.

Contact Richard by phone: 01223 240202 or by fax 01223 241900 Address: Labour European Office, Unit 3, Frohock House, 222 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3NF Email: richard@richardhowittmep.com Website: www.richardhowittmep.com Follow Richard on Twitter: @richardhowitt or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/richardhowittmep