letter to the editor from Richard Corbett MEP

14 May 2006

Sunday Times

Dear Sir,

It is prescient that the revelations of UKIP leader Roger Knapman using Polish workers to renovate his house should come in the week of Europe Day (May 9th).

Mr Knapman's party voted against the expansion of the European Union and were against Britain opening up its labour market, so it is pleasing that even the most ardent Eurosceptic can find benefits of being in the EU.

Having greater access to more skilled workers is just one of things this country should have been celebrating last Tuesday.

In recent weeks the EU has helped or made plans to bring down the cost of mobile phones (lowering roaming costs), cut deaths on Europe's roads (the Ecall system), make sunbathing safer (ensuring suncreams are clearly labelled) and work towards a better future for football on the continent (Independent Review of Football).

These are just a few examples of how democratically elected MEPs and government ministers have been working to make this country, and Europe, a safer, fairer and more prosperous place to live.


Richard Corbett

Labour MEP for Yorks & Humber
Blenheim Terrace, Leeds