Phillip Davies has stooped to a new low in his latest ranting, and shame on the Yorkshire Post for continuing to give his rabid views such credence and prominence!

You may have seen yesterday’s “exclusive” story. In line with cubed strawberries, straight bananas and banning church organs, apparently the EU is now “trying to brainwash children in the classroom”

The issue that Davies, Godfrey Bloom and chums have highlighted is that the European Parliament has sent information packs (entitled “The European Parliament – What’s that?”) to teachers, to help them explain its purpose and role. Shock Horror! There is no politics here, just a simple and informative guide on how the European Parliament works, and what its MEPs – from whatever party they come from – can do.

Our schools have citizenship classes to teach young people how the world around them works. They learn about how local Councillors make decisions on their behalf, how MPs make decisions on their behalf, and now how MEPs make decisions on their behalf, as well as how they can get involved in the democratic process. Whatever you think about your Council, the government or the EU, people need to know how they actually work.

Let’s be absolutely clear on this. The exaggerated success of the Eurosceptics comes from their uncanny ability to run campaigns of misinformation. The sole reason why Davies is so upset with this move, is because he knows that education is his enemy. The more people know of the EU, the less they will believe his stories.

For purposes of openness, tomorrow I will put an electronic version of the information pack on to my website so that you can all make up your own minds.

UPDATE : You can now read the information pack for yourselves here.