BFPO Europe

Remember this post when I raged about the Westminster government intending to abolish BFPO facilities in mainland Europe from next year? Along with All Seeing Eye (who has written a splendid post giving updated information), I'm been watching the Number 10 Petitions and the signatures presently number 49,277. Could I please ask you, if you haven't signed it already, to spare time to do so here. This postal link between families serving overseas and home is important to all concerned.

On the subject of Number 10 Petitions, I'd like to draw your attention to one (now closed) in which the petitioner asked "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to change the rules regarding Ramp Ceremonies for HM Forces Personnel killed in an act of terror, while in the Service of Her Majesty the Queen."

This petition was in response to the two bodies of the soldiers, flown home without ceremony, who were murdered in Northern Ireland earlier this year. Their bodies were shipped back to the UK as freight. The petitioners were told that the soldiers were not allowed to have a ramp service because of political reasons. They were also told the Government didn't want anything that would look like the Troubles had restarted.

Read the government's response here. An example of two wrongs not making a right and Gordon Brown's lack of compassion for military families.

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'Keep Them Out' Says No 10

Anti-war campaigners were refused access to Downing Street to deliver a letter calling for troops to be pulled out of Afghanistan.

About 100 demonstrators crossed Whitehall on Monday to take up a position in front of the gates leading into the street and a group of four protest organisers were told they would not be allowed access to hand the letter in to No 10.

Jeremy Corbyn MP and veteran peace campaigner Tony Benn were among the group hoping to take the letter to Downing Street but they were told it had "been decided" they would not be allowed in. The rally was organised by the Stop the War Coalition to mark the death toll of British military personnel in Afghanistan, which has surpassed that of troops in Iraq.

Perhaps in a few month's time there will be thousands wishing to hand a similar letter into Downing Street. Will they also be refused?

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A Response from No 10

Some time ago now I signed an online petition concerning the fact that EU auditors have refused to sign off the accounts for the 13th successive year.

Details of Petition:

“To continue to allow the EU commissioners to defraud the EU population is tantamount to theft by every politician representing the population which makes up the EU. This is something which the UK population does not wish to be involved through continued huge donation of taxpayer pounds to this corrupt organisation. If this cannot be sorted within a year then we need to withdraw unilaterally and completely from the EU.”

The No 10 response received today -

Thank you for your e-petition.

The UK has always been determined to ensure that EU funds are used properly and efficiently.  The UK was instrumental in setting up the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and strongly supported the establishment of the European Commission’s internal audit service as an independent unit.  In addition, the financial rules have been strengthened with the introduction in 2003, amended in 2007, of a new Financial Regulation, which sets out clear rules for those officials able to authorise spending - similar to those for accounting officers in the UK.

The government is disappointed that the European Court of Auditors (ECA) has been unable to give the EU accounts a clean bill of health for the 14th year in succession. This continues to be a matter of real concern as mismanagement of public funds undermines the confidence of taxpayers in the EU.

While the government welcomes the fact that a greater proportion of expenditure is now getting a positive Statement of Assurance, it is clear that much remains to be done.  The UK will continue to press member states as well as the European Commission to take further action to support sound implementation of the European budget.

There is no evidence of widespread corruption within the EU. The government is confident that there are robust procedures in place to ensure that any malpractice identified will be thoroughly investigated.

Finally, the UK firmly believes that continued Membership of the EU is strongly in the UK’s national interest. The EU is the UK’s main trading partner with trade worth in excess of £400 billion, or 52% of the UK’s total trade in goods and services. The free movement of goods, labour and capital under the single market has raised gross domestic product by an estimated 2.2% across the EU, bringing an average benefit per person of £360 a year and a higher standard of living for UK citizens.

Membership of the EU brings other real benefits, many of which are not easily quantifiable. By working together with other European countries, we can achieve much more in terms of promoting peace and stability, economic prosperity, environmental protection, and a range of other important issues than we could achieve by ourselves.

The Westminster government insists there is no evidence of widespread corruption.  We know there must be serious breaches of financial management or the auditors would have signed off the accounts. What business could be run in this way? MEPs seem powerless in their efforts to resolve this serious matter and that is worrying.

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