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Real Tories, Real Words
Posted by Tracey Cheetham (@tchee)
Monday, 1st February 2010
The European Parliamentary Labour Party has put together a brilliant collection of quotes from their Conservative Counterparts in the European Parliament. I was given a copy this week and thought it would serve as an excellent reminder of the aims and opinions of real Tories, elected to represent us in Europe. The topics they cover range from tax to the NHS and climate change; in some cases they might sound far-fetched but I assure you, these are REAL TORIES, REAL WORDS.
ECONOMY
“It is quite understandable when they legally want to transfer their money to lower tax regimes.” Syed Kamall, MEP for London, European Parliament, 24 April 2009.
“The European social model is outdated, it is destructive, it prevents job creation and it acts against entrepreneurship.” Martin Callaghan, MEP for the North East, European Parliament, 11 March 2009.
CLIMATE CHANGE
“Climate hysteria is increasingly remote from reality.” Roger Helmer, MEP for the East Midlands, European Parliament, 21 May 2008.
and “Wind turbines are garden ornaments, not power stations.” Nottingham Evening Post, 16 June 2009.
EQUALITY
“'Homophobia' is merely a propaganda device designed to denigrate and stigmatise those holding conventional opinions, which have been held by most people through most of recorded history.” Roger Helmer, MEP for the East Midlands, on his blog, 19 July 2009.
HEALTH
“I know they [NHS charges] are controversial but I don't think people who are in a job would actually be against spending say, £10 to see their GP or being fined £10 if they don't show up to an outpatients.” Charles Tannock, MEP for London, Channel 4 News, 27 August 2009.
“There is little evidence that promoting the use of condoms actually prevents the transmission of AIDS.” Charles Tannock, MEP for London, European Parliament, 7 May 2009.
There is one MEP who deserves a little section all of his own and this is, of course, the inimitable Daniel Hannan, MEP for the South East. A small selection of his finest quotes are below:
“[Enoch Powell was] someone who understood the importance of national democracy, who understood why you needed to live in an independent country and what that meant, as well as being a free-marketeer and a small government Conservative.” Reason TV, Spring 2009.
“The health care system we have is kind of a relic...I wouldn't wish it on anyone.” Fox News, 12 August 2009.
“[Tax on Bankers' bonuses] is more about class war than raising money.” Fox News, 10 December 2009.
These snippets of what goes on in the mind of a Conservative MEP demonstrate the quite scary reality that lurks behind the mask of respectable, 'for-the-people-electability' that David Cameron is trying so hard to promote. He would have the electorate believe that the Conservatives have changed, that they are the party who will look out for the people, but all we have to do is watch out for the “Real Tories”. They are out there and unless we continue to erode their opinion poll lead away, they may soon be coming to a constituency near you.
