New Conservative MEP laments 60% rise in Britain’s EU contribution

The East Midlands new local Conservative MEP, Emma McClarkin, is warning that taxpayers face an increase of 60 percent in their EU budget contributions – to around £260 per household – thanks to Labour’s bumbling negotiating stance in 2005 over the EU budget.

When Labour Ministers – including Gordon Brown – negotiated the EU’s budget for 2007-2013, they agreed to surrender seven billion pounds of the British rebate. The rebate was negotiated by Margaret Thatcher in 1984 in order to readjust the shortfall between the UK’s contribution and the amount it benefits from in return.

The reduction in the rebate was offered in exchange for a commitment to reform the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (the CAP). Unfortunately, the so-called CAP health check was significantly weakened by the French, largely because British Ministers failed to turn up to the first meeting at which the policy was discussed.

Rather than spreading the loss of the rebate over the seven years, the British government ‘backloaded’ it, so that a greater chunk would be paid towards the end of the period. This means that – as we attempt to recover from the recession and repair our public finances – yet more taxpayers’ money will be spent on the EU.

Emma McClarkin said:

“Most British taxpayers would like to see less of our money going to the EU, and more accountability for how it is spent. Instead, Labour’s failure to protect our rebate will see our EU bill soar, just as we search for ways to reduce our national debt.

“Gordon Brown gave away seven billion Pounds of our money with almost nothing in return. In 2005, Ministers said they would give up our rebate in exchange for a promise to reform the Common Agricultural Policy, which has not been forthcoming.

“The then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, cynically arranged for the loss of the majority our rebate to occur towards the end of the EU’s seven-year budget cycle, meaning the true extent of his failure would not be known until well after he had left government.

“As we demand far better value from our public sector, it is ludicrous that our government’s incompetence is sending billions more to the EU. We need a new government that will fight our corner in Brussels and demand a fairer deal.”