BORIS SENDS RIGHT MESSAGE TO BRUSSELS
Speaking at a Thomson Reuters event earlier this month, London Mayor Boris Johnson called for pared-back British membership of the European Union. The mayor supports a renegotiated relationship with the EU based around the Single Market, which he described as “the great achievement of the European Union”. Marina has long called for the European Union to reject its current policy of over-regulation, bureaucracy and interference and return to its roots as a trading bloc.
Boris also criticised the euro calling it “a calamitous project” which “will limp on with sclerotic growth rates.” He echoed Marina’s comments on the euro by saying:
“It will eventually blow up but I wouldn’t care to bet when.” Given recent comments by French Central Bank Governor, Christian Noyer, who said that the City of London should no longer be the euro zone’s main financial centre, Boris said future for London is to be “at the heart of the world economy, the centre of a series of interconnecting sets, trading freely with the EU, but with our eyes on the growth economies of the 21st century.” Marina agrees. Having fended off attempts to impose a damaging EU financial transaction tax, Conservative MEPs must resist any proposals for an EU banking union which would see the UK marginalised and the status of the City’s financial services industry diminished as a result.
MARINA JOINS FIGHT AGAINST CANCER
Marina is the lead Conservative MEP on health issues in the European Parliament. While she believes that health must remain a member state competence, she believes that EU Members States should share best practices and, when appropriate, pool resources to fund clinical research into diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer. As the only London MEP to be a member of the MEPs against Cancer group, Marina believes that the EU should support more work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Marina recently visited Cancer Research UK’s London Research Lab where a number of the scientists studying the disease receive grants from the EU’s Framework Programme for Research. She also went to see the site of the new Francis Crick Institute near St. Pancras Station which will open in 2015 with Cancer Research UK as a partner. The institute will see world class research facilities with scientists from many disciplines tackling the major causes of human mortality including heard disease, diseases of the brain and nervous system and cancer.
Marina is currently working on the revision to the EU Clinical Trials Directive. She is determined that the new regulation should not put medical breakthroughs at risk, but instead make it easier to find treatments against diseases like cancer. As part of her work on clinical trials, Marina recently visited the Clinical Research Facility at Guy’s Hospital.
MITZVAH DAY
Marina joined Camden councillors Simon Marcus and Gio Spinella as well as a team of Conservative volunteers last month for Mitzvah Day 2012.Mitzvah Day is about doing a good deed, and Marina and the councillors cleared the communal garden and restored outside furniture at the Marie Curie Hospice in Lyndhurst Gardens so that they can be enjoyed by patients.
Marina said: “It was great to see the before and after of the garden and to learn more about the amazing work the Marie Curie team do.”Hampstead and Kilburn Conservatives Vice Chairman for Social Action Marc Nykolyszyn added: “Marie Curie is a fantastic organisation that provides so much support for patients, families and friends in times of need, so Mitzvah Day was an ideal opportunity to give something back.”
AROUND LONDON
Marina has been out meeting her constituents across London. She has been helping local Conservative associations with deliveries and canvassing as well as talking to her constituents about the European Parliament. Your London MEP helped deliver leaflets for the Conservative candidate Andy Stranack in the Croydon North by-election. Andy was a superb local candidate who earned respect from local residents due to his extensive work in the community. While we didn’t get the result we wanted, the Conservative vote in Croydon was much better than at other by-elections on the same day.
Marina also supported candidate Graham Jarvis in a hard fought battle against the Lib Dems in Stonecot ward, Sutton. She has also attended annual dinners with Conservative associations in Hammersmith, Hornchurch & Upminster, Ealing North, Ealing & Acton and Chipping Barnet. She has also met with members at association events in Hendon, Brentford & Isleworth, Kingston & Surbiton and Westminster North. Marina also enjoyed catching up with old friends at the CWO London region Christmas lunch.
SEASONS GREETINGS & BEST WISHES FOR 2013
2012 has been an unforgettable year for London from the sporting action of the Olympics and Paralympics to the pomp and circumstance of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. We already have a royal baby to look forward to in 2013 and I’m sure that there will be more high points to harness the enthusiasm and energy of Londoners. Until then, Marina wishes all readers of her newsletter and their families a very Merry Christmas
If you would like Marina to attend a London event email: [email protected]