Brussels Funds 'I Hate the EU' Campaign
by Justin Stares in Brussels

Roger Helmer, the Conservative Euro-MP for the East Midlands, obtained the funds from the parliament's information budget to print car bumper stickers saying: ''Love Europe. Hate the EU'' next to a picture of a crossed-out EU flag.

Two thousand stickers will be distributed to the first people to write to Mr Helmer enclosing a first-class stamp. The printing bill of about £350 is being met by the European Parliament.

Parliamentary officials tried to stop Mr Helmer gaining access to the budget but gave in after he argued that the words on the sticker were an accurate description of his political views. All Euro-MPs have the right to funds to get their message across.

"Officials initially refused funding on the grounds that the sticker's message was not political, nor was it information; it was merely my sentiment," said Mr Helmer. He then told them that if they could think of a better slogan reflecting his views, he would be happy to use it.

"I asked them whether they would have rejected the phrasing 'Love Europe, Love the EU'," he said. "I was amused by the transparent effort of the parliamentary authorities to apply political censorship to members' information funding. But I'm glad they finally saw sense."

Mr Helmer, 61, who is standing down at the next European election, believes that the Conservative Party should not belong to the Europhile European People's Party grouping in the parliament.
The Sunday Telegraph, 21st August 2005