4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) Press Statement

25 May 2014 – For Immediate Release

 

CAMERON LOSING CONTROL: HANNAN DANISH TV INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS ANTI-IMMIGRANT LINKS

Late last night (Sat – 24 May), on the eve of Euro-election results, lead Tory MEP in the Prime Minister’s own UK Region, Daniel Hannan, revealed to Danish TV British Conservative links to anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party (DPP). Hannan repeatedly defended the DPP MEP Morten Messerschmidt. In 2002, Messerschmidt was convicted, along with three other members of the DPP's youth wing, for inciting racial hatred.

“Dan not Dave runs the Tory euro-show. Hannan is determined to form an anti-immigration, anti-EU grouping in the European Parliament. Cameron has slapped British democracy hard in the face by failing to admit Tory plans before Thursday’s election. The self-proclaimed patriot Hannan even announces rapprochement with Messerschmidt on Danish TV, not in his own country!” stated the leader of the pro-European 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) Dirk Hazell.

Previously, Farage faced questions about UKIP hard right links including the DPP. Since January 2013, Tory-led ECR Group Euro-MPs voted two-thirds of the time with Farage’s UKIP-led EFD Group.

“Cameron's Conservatives are going back to the 1930s: people forced into reliance on soup kitchens in Britain, appeasement of the xenophobic hard right across Europe. Cameron’s Brussels boys increasingly march to hard right tunes, ever further away from Europe’s centre ground. Cameron constantly caves into UKIP, but appeasement never works!" warned Hazell.

"Before Britain went to the polls on Thursday (22 May) 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) asked both the Prime Minister as leader of the Conservative Party and also the leader of the Conservative MEPs to come clean about their intended euro-allies. It looks like they concealed from the British people what was already planned", continued Hazell.

"Hannan told Danish TV of his aim to lead Britain out of the EU and into a ‘Swiss type deal’. Such disregard for his own PM’s election platform is an arrogant slap in the face for the British people and disregards the sacrifices of generations to build accountable and transparent democracy”, said Hazell.

“Leading members of the Danish People’s and the Finns parties have made shockingly xenophobic and Islamophobic comments, some of which have resulted in convictions. I find it incredible that Conservative MEPs would even have contemplated talking to such parties, let alone associating with them and justifying their conduct”, noted Hazell.

“Cameron has held himself out as pro-women, pro-gay and pro-green in London but his Conservative MEPs march with very different collaborators in Brussels. The Hannan bandwagon of UKIP sympathisers already has form. Britain should lead not leave the EU. By putting his own survival as party leader ahead of the British national interest, Cameron has instead taken Britain to the brink of Brexit”, suggested Hazell.

The pro-European 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) gives centre ground, centre-right pro-European people in the UK the chance to be back at the heart of Europe, inside the mainstream EPP family. “British influence was sharply reduced when Cameron marched his Tory MEPs out of the EPP Group in 2009. We will start to repair the damage Cameron created. We believe in bringing people together, not driving them apart”, concluded Hazell.

Europe’s leading city: London - Europe’s leading party: EPP

ENDS

Editor’s Note: Please see this link for the open letter (20 May) to Conservative Euro-leader Syed Kamall MEP from the 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) leader Dirk Hazell. The 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) fielded a full list of eight candidates in the London region on Thursday 22 May, and has the political support of the EU’s largest political family, the mainstream centre-right EPP.

The 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) offers a positive platform of policies, reflecting a refreshing and forward-looking interpretation of mainstream centre ground and centre-right values. This new British political party embraces the 4 fundamental EU freedoms of movement for people, goods, services and capital – plus the 4 freedoms outlined in US President FD Roosevelt’s iconic 1941 State of the Union address, namely: freedoms of speech and worship, freedoms from want and fear.

 

www.4freedomsparty.eu

4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) Press Statement

21 May 2014 – For Immediate Release

 

VOTE FOR LONDON’S BETTER FUTURE IN A BETTER EUROPE – EACH UNITED IN DIVERSITY

Tomorrow (Thurs – 22 May), the British will be the first in Europe to vote in this year’s key European elections. This evening (Wed – 21 May), the President of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) Sir Mike Rake will warn British firms that the risk of Britain leaving the EU is already causing uncertainty and jeopardizing future UK inward investment.

Speaking ahead of today’s (Wed – 21 May) CBI annual dinner in London, 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) leader Dirk Hazell said: “The British government must heed this clear warning. The UK must not be dragged out of the EU because the Conservative Party under Cameron is infiltrated by the UKIP militant tendency. London’s future is at the heart of Europe. Yes, the EU needs reforming but this should be done by working with our partners instead of constantly criticising from the side lines. Britain is a great country with a great people, united in diversity and capable of leading not leaving the EU.”

“As the EU, steered by Europe’s leading party the mainstream centre-right EPP European People's Party, reforms during the next five years, only 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) can offer Londoners a strong voice inside the EPP. The EPP political family plans to create millions of new jobs through wide-ranging European reforms and initiatives such as the EU digital single market. By working within the mainstream, we will deliver real results for London and beyond – including completing the single market, launched twenty-five years ago as a British Conservative initiative substantially conceived by me. We will bring people together, not drive them apart”, noted Hazell.

British PM David Cameron has effectively lost control of his small fringe Euro-Group. Since January 2013, Tory-led ECR Group MEPs have voted two-thirds of the time with Farage’s UKIP-led EFD MEPs: making themselves jointly amongst the European Parliament’s least influential MEPs. In contrast, 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) MEPs will guarantee British input into EPP action on jobs, prosperity and security. One British MEP in the EPP will be worth more to Britain than UKIP’s entire delegation.

“As a past Tory party leader, William Hague - and his then-adviser George Osborne - must remember sitting with mainstream centre-right leaders at regular EPP Summits. Hague and Osborne must now know beyond doubt how serious a mistake Cameron made in ordering Tory MEPs to leave the EPP in 2009, surrendering the valuable chance to shape European policy from within”, said Hazell.

Joining Hazell on BBC TV’s Daily Politics Show, former CBI head, Digby Jones agreed that Cameron was wrong to flounce out of the powerful mainstream EPP Group. “Cameron puts his own survival as party leader ahead of the British national interest, taking Britain to the brink of Brexit. The Hannan bandwagon of UKIP sympathisers is taking over, dragging the Conservative party over the edge. – Instead, we will start to repair the damage Cameron created”, said Hazell.

The 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) offers London voters a positive platform of policies, reflecting a refreshing and forward-looking interpretation of mainstream centre ground and centre-right values. This new British political party embraces the 4 fundamental EU freedoms of movement for people, goods, services and capital – plus the 4 freedoms outlined in US President FD Roosevelt’s iconic 1941 State of the Union address, namely: freedoms of speech and worship, freedoms from want and fear.

“Our EPP values combine a strong economy with dignity for the retired and vulnerable. We believe in social and environmental justice. We have a cast iron commitment, sadly under attack from others in Britain, to guarantee human rights”, stated Hazell: “British votes on Thursday count towards building political groupings in Brussels. A vote for the wrong party risks creating new hard and far right political groupings in the European Parliament that will try to reduce our European freedoms.”

“We must challenge UKIP’s anti-EU fear mongers and fellow travellers: their distortion of the past and present, their oppressive view of the future. As our EPP Commission Presidential candidate Jean-Claude Juncker told journalists in Brussels this afternoon (Wed – 21 May): ‘Do vote, but do not give your votes to extremists, xenophobes or fascists, as they unfortunately continue to exist in Europe. If we want Europe to function and to serve its citizens, we should vote for people who will work hard in the next European Parliament, who will defend European values and fundamental rights, which continue to come under regular attack both at home and abroad.’” concluded Hazell.

Europe’s leading city: London - Europe’s leading party: EPP

ENDS

Editor’s Note: The 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) is fielding a full list of eight candidates in the London region on Thursday 22 May, and has the political support of the EU’s largest political family, the mainstream centre-right EPP. Elected 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) MEPs will join the EPP Group in the European Parliament when it reconvenes in the first week of July.

4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) Press Statement

20 May 2014 – For Immediate Release

 
CAMERON’s TORY MEPs MUST NOT JOIN ANTI-IMMIGRANT XENOPHOBES IN BRUSSELS

When you vote on Thursday (22 May) do you know where and with whom the MEPs you are electing will sit? Today (Tues – 20 May), the 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) leader Dirk Hazell urged voters to take care: “Your vote on Thursday counts toward building political groupings in Brussels. A vote for the wrong party risks creating new hard and far right groups that will try to reduce your European freedoms.”

With increasing media reports that Tory MEPs plan to link up with Farage’s UKIP anti-immigrant friends in a desperate attempt to preserve their failing ECR Group, Hazell has published an open letter to Euro-MP Syed Kamall, the Conservative leader in the European Parliament. “People across Britain will be shocked to learn that a vote for the Conservatives could mean supporting a new Tory alliance in Brussels that will embrace the anti-immigrant Danish People’s and the Finns parties”, said Hazell.

“Leading members of both the Danish People’s and the Finns parties have made shockingly xenophobic and Islamophobic comments, some of which have resulted in convictions. I find it incredible that Conservative MEPs would even contemplate talking to these parties, yet alone associating with them”, writes Hazell.

“British PM David Cameron must come clean and admit what is being planned before Thursday. The British electorate deserves the truth. Cameron must stop pretending one thing in London and then allowing his Tory MEPs to behave differently in Brussels. Or has Cameron lost control as his Brussels rebels drive the Conservative party hard right?” asked Hazell.

Hazell added: “Since January 2013, Tory-led ECR Group Euro-MPs voted two-thirds of the time with Farage’s UKIP-led EFD Group. Now Conservative MEPs appear intent on joining with them to form an anti-immigrant, anti-EU grouping in the European Parliament. Cameron’s Brussels boys seem to be marching to hard right tunes, ever further away from Europe’s centre ground. Cameron constantly caves into UKIP, but appeasement never works!”

The 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) gives centre ground, centre-right pro-European Londoners the chance to be back at the heart of Europe, inside the mainstream EPP family. “British influence was sharply reduced when Cameron ordered his Tory MEPs out of the EPP Group in 2009. We will start to repair the damage Cameron created”, explained Hazell.

Standing in London – with a full list of eight candidates, including citizens from other EU member states – Hazell confirmed: “We will be a strong voice in the European Parliament, defending the freedoms of everyone who lives, works and studies in London and beyond.  We believe in bringing people together, not driving them apart. As MEPs we will sit with the powerful EPP political family of Angela Merkel and other mainstream centre-right EU leaders.”

Joining Hazell on BBC TV’s Daily Politics Show, the former head of the Confederation of British Industry, Digby Jones agreed that Cameron was wrong to flounce out of the powerful mainstream EPP Group. “The UK should lead not leave the EU. Instead, Cameron puts his own survival as party leader ahead of the British national interest, taking Britain to the brink of Brexit. The Hannan bandwagon of UKIP sympathisers is taking over, dragging the Conservative party over the edge”, warned Hazell.

Europe’s leading city: London - Europe’s leading party: EPP

ENDS

Editor’s Note: Please see this link for the open letter to Conservative Euro-leader Syed Kamall MEP from the 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) leader Dirk Hazell. The 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) is fielding a full list of eight candidates in the London region on Thursday 22 May, and has the political support of the EU’s largest political family, the mainstream centre-right EPP. Elected 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) MEPs will join the EPP Group in the European Parliament when it reconvenes in the first week of July.

The 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) offers London voters a positive platform of policies, reflecting a refreshing and forward-looking interpretation of mainstream centre ground and centre-right values. This new British political party embraces the 4 fundamental EU freedoms of movement for people, goods, services and capital – plus the 4 freedoms outlined in US President FD Roosevelt’s iconic 1941 State of the Union address, namely: freedoms of speech and worship, freedoms from want and fear.”

Following press reports of Tory discussions with xenophobic hard right parties, and with their own fringe political euro-group (ECR) collapsing, pressure is mounting on them to disclose BEFORE the European election their prospective collaborators. Those from whom demands have come include us, the media, a former Leader of the Conservative MEPs and a Vice-President of the European Parliament. 

4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) Press Statement

18 May 2014 – For Immediate Release

 

CAMERON COME CLEAN OVER EURO-ALLIANCE: VOTERS IN BRITAIN DESERVE ANSWERS

In an open letter to British PM David Cameron, leader of Britain’s new 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) Dirk Hazell calls for “answers the British people are entitled to know before voting on Thursday”. With mounting evidence that Cameron’s MEPs intend to go into coalition in Brussels with anti-immigrant and anti-EU parties, Hazell urges Britain’s Prime Minister to “come clean”.

“Do Cameron and mainstream Conservative voters really intend to support the UKIP militant tendency when they vote this week in what will be a defining European election?”, notes Hazell: “Instead, Cameron can save his place in history by expelling from the Conservative Party his UKIP militant tendency and dissolving his ECR Group before it collapses, or worse still lurches to the even harder right.”.

“Cameron has lost control of his fringe Euro-Group. Since January 2013, Tory-led ECR Group Euro-MPs voted two-thirds of the time with Farage’s UKIP-led EFD Group. Now Conservative MEPs appear intent on joining with them to form an anti-immigrant, anti-EU grouping in the European Parliament. Cameron’s Brussels boys seem to be marching to hard right tunes, ever further away from Europe’s centre ground”, said Hazell.

Last month (Thurs - 24 Apr), anti-EU Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan flew to Helsinki to meet with leader of the radical right-wing populist Finns Party, Timo Soini. And yesterday (Sat – 17 May), leader of Cameron’s ECR Euro-group Martin Callanan MEP failed to rule out Conservative MEPs partnering in Brussels with hard right, anti-EU parties. Instead, Callanan observed that he has “a very good relationship” with MEP Morten Messerschmidt from the anti-immigrant Danish People’s party.

Hazell wrote to the British Prime Minister (please see attached): “The EPP has always supported the best practicable inter-government relations. Sadly, British influence has been reduced by your decision to order Conservative MEPs out of the EPP Group in 2009, yet now you need support in both the Council and Parliament from natural allies on the mainstream centre-right”.

On Tuesday (13 May), Hazell was joined on BBC TV’s Daily Politics Show by former head of the Confederation of British Industry Digby Jones. Lord Jones agreed with Hazell that Cameron was wrong to flounce out of the powerful EPP political family of Angela Merkel and other mainstream centre-right EU leaders. “By sustaining this shoddy and shaming alliance, Cameron is taking the UK to the brink of Brexit. Britain should be leading, not leaving, the EU. Instead, Cameron puts his own survival as party leader ahead of the British national interest. Cameron is caving into UKIP, but appeasement never works!”, warns Hazell.

As Britain prepares to vote in Thursday’s (22 May) Euro-election, Hazell explains: “The EPP is the most positive and powerful force for European reform. A vote for the 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) is a vote for giving Britain a strong voice where it matters: inside the EPP at the heart of Europe. As my letter to the PM asks, where will his Conservative MEPs sit?”

“4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) MEPs will sit with the EPP Group in the European Parliament. We hope the British centre-right will once again unite within our pro-EU family. Those Conservative MEPs who do not want to be taken over by the Hannan bandwagon of UKIP sympathisers are welcome to join us in the centre ground, centre-right EPP family. While Cameron may wish to back himself into a corner, other Conservatives can choose to escape the past and look to the future”, concludes Hazell.

Europe’s leading city: London - Europe’s leading party: EPP

ENDS

Editor’s Note: The 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) represents a positive platform of policies, reflecting a refreshing and forward-looking interpretation of mainstream centre ground and centre-right values. This new British political party embraces the 4 fundamental EU freedoms of movement for people, goods, services and capital – plus the 4 freedoms outlined in US President FD Roosevelt’s iconic 1941 State of the Union address, namely: freedoms of speech and worship, freedoms from want and fear.

The 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) is fielding a full list of eight candidates in the London region on Thursday 22 May, and has the political support of the EU’s largest political family, the mainstream centre-right EPP. Elected 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) MEPs will join the EPP Group in the European Parliament when it reconvenes in the first week of July.

Commenting yesterday morning before last night's televised debate between candidates for the Presidency of the European Commission, the 'Today' programme incorrectly stated that in the UK it was not possible to vote for the EPP's European Commission Presidential Candidate.

This was a significant error, not least because polling data across Europe suggests the EPP should win this European election.

This morning, the 'Today' programme broadcast a retraction, agreeing that in London the 4 Freedoms Party is fielding a complete team of EPP Candidates for the European Parliament which will support the EPP's Presidential nomination.

Labour is not supporting the Socialist candidate and the Liberal Democrats' candidate cannot win.

4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP)  is the only British political party supporting a Presidential Candidate  who can win. Our Candidate will deliver European reform and a new generation of millions of new jobs.

4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) Press Statement

15 May 2014 – For Immediate Release

CAMERON CAGED BY BRUSSELS EURO-REBELS

Addressing students in London late yesterday (Wed – 14 May), leader of Britain’s new 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) Dirk Hazell condemned British PM David Cameron’s European follies.

“Mr Cameron’s rash move in 2009, ordering his Conservative MEPs out of the mainstream centre-right EPP Group in the European Parliament, set him on the track of putting Britain’s European future at risk. Caged Cameron is now trapped by his Brussels euro-rebels. The anti-EU Euro-MP Daniel Hannan runs the Tory show in Europe, not the British Prime Minister”, said Hazell.

Cameron has effectively lost control of his fringe Euro-Group, dubbed “the minibus” by many observers. Since January 2013, Tory-led ECR Group MEPs have voted two-thirds of the time with Farage’s UKIP-led EFD MEPs - putting themselves jointly amongst the European Parliament’s least influential MEPs.

In an interview for New Europe newspaper earlier yesterday (13 May) Hazell attacked “hard right” eurosceptics - as he pledged to “fight to keep Britain in Europe” and to restore British influence. “The 2014 European election, whatever the result, is the start and not the end of a process of re-normalising the British centre right”, said Hazell.

Speaking last night (14 May), Hazell commented: “Cameron’s reckless sop to his UKIP militant tendency in Brussels and Westminster failed to stop the growth of UKIP itself: appeasement never works. Just when Cameron most needs support from his fellow EU leaders if he is to achieve any meaningful reform, the PM continues to lurch away from the mainstream EPP.”

On Tuesday (13 May), Hazell was joined on BBC TV’s Daily Politics Show by former head of the Confederation of British Industry Digby Jones. Lord Jones agreed with Hazell that Cameron was wrong to flounce out of the powerful EPP political family of Angela Merkel and other mainstream centre-right EU leaders. “By sustaining his shoddy and shaming alliance, Cameron is taking the UK to the brink of Brexit”, warned Hazell.

Looking ahead to next Thursday’s (22 May) Euro-election, Hazell explained: “The EPP is the most positive and powerful force for European change. A vote for the 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP) is a vote for putting Britain back inside the EPP where the real decisions are made. Britain should be leading, not leaving, the EU. Instead, the overwhelming impression is of Cameron putting his own survival as party leader ahead of the British national interest.”

“Sadly for Britain, Cameron is backing himself into a corner from which there is no escape. The Hannan fifth column of UKIP sympathisers gathers ever more momentum within the Conservative party, while Farage attacks from outside. Cameron is running out of time and losing friends. This is no longer a rebellion within the UK’s Conservative Party, it is a takeover”, concluded Hazell.

Europe’s leading city: London - Europe’s leading party: EPP

ENDS

New Europe interview today with Dirk Hazell here:
http://www.neurope.eu/article/epp-fight-keep-britain-europe

On BBC2 Daily Politics Programme Dirk Hazell 4 Freedoms London Euro MP Candidate and former CBI Director General Lord Digby Jones agreed that Prime Minister Cameron's ordering his Party to leave the EPP had weakened his ability to deliver a renegotiation:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27396104