Richard Corbett MEP


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	press release 23 April 2008
	Recycled Tory nonsense on EU slammed by Labour
	Labour's Deputy Leader in the European Parliament, Richard Corbett, today described as 'silly season nonsense' recycled Tory claims that the EU is introducing new transnational regions as a plot to wipe Britain off the map. Richard said: "I always thought that the 'silly season' was in August but the Tories are clearly trying to bring it forward a few months. The Tories tried to use this absurd story two years ago. It was nonsense then and it is nonsense now." In a cynical attempt to get media coverage on St Georges Day, the Tories have recycled a story they used two years ago claiming that the Government is colluding with EU attempts to create transnational regions in order to create a united Europe. Commenting, Richard added: "If the Tories are reduced to re-hashing old stories they need to get a press officer with more imagination." The Tories' claims refer to a map of Europe used for the INTERREG programme, a transnational structural funds programme designed to focus on regions in different countries facing similar challenges co-operating with each other. For the purposes of the INTERREG programme, the regional map defines a "North Sea" region, an "Atlantic" region, a "Transmanche" region, a "North Atlantic" region and an "Ireland/Wales" region. Richard said: "Of course Hartlepool and Hull do share some common problems and interests with Zeebrugge and the Hague - they are ports, use the same stretch of water and have similar environmental concerns." Concluding, Richard said: "Inter-regional co-operation is not a conspiracy - it is common sense - and a map showing which regions are cooperating is no more a threat to Britain than is a geological map showing both Kent and northern France as chalk!"
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	notes for editors
	The Sun ran the same story on September 4th 2006: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article61980.ece The Daily Mail also ran a story on the INTERREG programme on September 4th 2006: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=403522&in_page_id=1770 In today's story Eric Pickles tells the Daily Express: "Gordon Brown literally wants to wipe Britain off the map" . Back in 2006 Eric Pickles is quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: "I fear Eurocrats could literally wipe Britain off the map"
	more information
	Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP phone 0113 245 8987 e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk
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