reply from ukip.

[Ratfinkz]

I thought this was a good reply even If he does take every opportunity to bash the EU!!!

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your recent email, addressed to Stuart Agnew MEP. I am replying on his behalf.

Mr Agnew and his fellow UKIP MEPs were elected on a platform of withdrawal from the EU and thus have no mandate for supporting EU legislative proposals and would not, therefore, support this directive or its revisions. They are opposed, as a matter of principle, to unelected members of the European Commission being the sole originators of all new EU legislation, much of which is binding upon the British people.

Electronic smoking devices are already well regulated in this country. We do not need the EU sticking its nose in.

Rest assured that the UKIP MEPs will vote against this legislation when it comes before the Parliament. It should be a matter for our elected Government and Parliament at Westminster, not unelected officials in Brussels. However, do bear in mind that there are 754 MEPs and the UK has just 72. Many of the latter are EU supporters and will not vote against this nonsense.

Unfortunately, while we remain members of the EU, we will be subject to rule by Brussels diktat. Sadly, much of what emanates from the Brussels legislative sausage machine is extremely damaging to the best interests of the British people and to our business sector.

UKIP was created in 1993 to campaign for our country's freedom from the EU and we will continue to campaign for exactly that outcome. I do hope that we can rely on your support at future elections, both domestic and European.

Best wishes,

Stuart Gulleford Political Advisor to Stuart Agnew MEP

[meeee]

Well done, I wrote to 3 MEP's but have not heard a word back from any of them.

[lobeydosser]

<<< However, do bear in mind that there are 754 MEPs and the UK has just 72. Many of the latter are EU supporters and will not vote against this nonsense.>>>

A bit disconcerting that our MEPs are voting for EU Regs just because it is an EU directive, even when they know full well that is is nonsense!

Mmmmh. Hopefully this is a misprint.

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2013 12:36:43 GMT lobeydosser said:

<<< However, do bear in mind that there are 754 MEPs and the UK has just 72. Many of the latter are EU supporters and will not vote against this nonsense.>>>

A bit disconcerting that our MEPs are voting for EU Regs just because it is an EU directive, even when they know full well that is is nonsense!

Mmmmh. Hopefully this is a misprint.

some truth I suspect but more likely some UKIP politics at play

[hifistud]

I don't care what politics they're playing as long as they're opposing the revisions to the directive. However, if everyone in the EU writes to their MEPs and gets as many appointments to meet with them as possible, then we stand a better chance of success in getting this daftness quashed.

[Deleted]

I've just had a response from a Labour MEP which is an identical text to another one I received ... looks like Labour have a cookie cutter approach to this subject. I have corrected her on a few facts ...

Many thanks for writing to me about the important issue of the EU Tobacco Products Directive, and how it will affect electronic cigarettes.

Because e-cigarettes are a relatively new product they are regulated differently in each EU country. Some countries allow e-cigarettes to be sold without any regulation at all. Others have banned the sale of e-cigarettes. As the UK is part of the EU's internal market it is important that we harmonise the way we deal with this product, otherwise consumers could be buying unregulated products which do not conform to basic safety standards, either within their own country, or by easily purchasing it over the internet from a neighbouring country.

The European Commission has proposed that all 'nicotine containing products' with more than 2mg per unit should not be classed as tobacco products. Instead, under the Commission's proposals, nearly all e-cigarettes will need to get authorisation as a pharmaceutical product, in the same way as nicotine patches, sprays and gums.

Of course there is a balance to strike. On one hand e-cigarettes have the potential to be a helpful way to help somebody quit smoking entirely and greatly improve their health. On the other hand e-cigarettes currently can contain up to 48mg of nicotine - far more than a regular cigarette, making them highly addictive.

As nicotine is the drug that makes cigarettes addictive, somebody that tries e-cigarettes could be much more likely to go on to smoke regular cigarettes. Furthermore, there is no evidence that e-cigarettes are safe, and it is concerning that they are being marketed as a 'healthy' alternative to smoking.

Currently we do not have any conclusive evidence either that e-cigarettes are helpful for giving up smoking, or that they encourage it.

While we do not have this scientific evidence to rely on I think it is wise to have a cautious approach to e-cigarettes. If they are effective in helping people to stop smoking, then it is appropriate that they are regulated in the same way as other smoking cessation tools, such as nicotine patches.

The Commission proposal is not final and there will be many months of negotiations by the European Parliament, as well as health ministers from the UK and other EU countries, before the legislation is agreed. During this time Labour MEPs will be looking carefully at all of the measures and trying to find the best way to ensure that we effectively reduce smoking rates in the UK and across Europe.

Thanks again for writing to me on this important issue.

Best wishes



Heath Woodward
Assistant
Mary Honeyball MEP
4G Shirland Mews
London
W9 3DY
Tel: [phone]
Web: www.maryhoneyball.net
Twitter @maryhoneyball

[Ratfinkz]

Jan 14, 2013 13:07:02 GMT hifistud said:

I don't care what politics they're playing as long as they're opposing the revisions to the directive. However, if everyone in the EU writes to their MEPs and gets as many appointments to meet with them as possible, then we stand a better chance of success in getting this daftness quashed.

Totally agree this is above and beyond politics and if ukip are only voting against it cos they don't agree with the EU who cares? Every no vote is a step in our favour whatever the reasons behind it

[glynwhite]

Do we play the million voters plus supporters shift to UKIP card yet. That will scare them

[hifistud]

It's more effective to arrange meetings with MEPs at this stage - keep the voter card until we need it.