Conservative MEP Team Chosen

The Conservative Candidates for the East Midlands European Elections in 2009 have been chosen by a postal ballot of all Party Members.

The team is led by Roger Helmer MEP, supported by Emma McClarkin, Rupert Matthews, Fiona Bulmer and George Lee. Retiring East Midlands MEP, Chris Heaton-Harris, says:

This is a fantastic team to represent the East Midlands with a real depth of talent and wide range of experience.

I would also like to thank everyone who supported me in the selections process.

East Midlands Selection Final

Below you can read a full copy of my selections speech which I recently gave to the Conservative East Midlands selection panel.

My speech contains a lot of information about me, the work that I have done and why I wish to be a Conservative MEP and represent the people of the East Midlands. Please do take the time to read it.

Who is Emma McClarkin?

My name is Emma McClarkin and I want to be your MEP. I am especially delighted to be here today as the East Midlands is where I have spent the last five years living working and campaigning for the Party. It’s a fabulously diverse region with each county holding its own treasures from Stilton cheese to Lincolnshire sausages, to the beauty of the Peak district to Rutland water. But like every region we have our problems and our concerns and more and more these problems are coming out of Brussels.

Experience

As many of you know I currently work as Political Advisor in the European Parliament helping to represent the East Midlands region and I have over five years experience with the Conservative Euro team. But I also have experience of life as well. I have a law degree and worked in the law before getting into Politics. Politics is my passion but I will never forget where I came from, and lose touch with my constituents.

Knowledge of the EU

Through my work I have had first hand experience of Brussels - of influencing the legislative process, delivering results and communicating regional issues.

But as well as knowledge and experience in order to win more seats at the next European Election your candidate will have to concentrate on the three Cs. Campaigning Communication and Commitment.

I have a vast amount of campaigning experience across the East Midlands and for elections at the local, national and European level.

I am a hard working personable young woman who is able to communicate and connect with people from all walks of life. As your candidate, there will be no no-go areas for me and as a young person I would be able to reach out to younger voters and get them engaged in politics too.

Having been a press officer here in the East Midlands and media campaign coordinator in the 2004 Euro-election, I understand the importance of building strong contacts with the local media and will take advantage of every opportunity to gain a high profile and secure positive press coverage for the Party.

As a candidate, I will devote my time and energy to supporting and working with Associations across the entire East Midlands – and when I say East Midlands, I mean the entire region – not just Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, but Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and not forgetting Rutland! and our inner cities too. And supporting the Party will not end once you’ve elected me. As your MEP, I will use my offices, MEP resources and all my spare time to get more Conservative councillors and a Conservative government.

I believe Britain is crying out for our Conservative values and strong principled leadership on Europe.

I believe British farmers have been treated with contempt by this government. I want to fight for a better deal for them in Brussels.

When Chris Heaton-Harris goes to Westminster this region will lose a great communicator and recruiter of young people. As a younger candidate I would like to continue the good work he has done with our schools and universities.

And I will stick up for our businesses. Not only does that mean voting against red tape and barmy European laws, but also by ensuring we get our fair share of regional funding and acting as an ambassador for inward investment to the region.

When you look at the key challenges facing the East Midlands: transport infrastructure, tourism, defending rural areas, the demise of our fishing fleets or ensuring economic development and regeneration, Europe – whether we like it or not (and I usually do not) plays a large part. I will be your voice in Brussels – representing the East Midlands in the EU, not the EU in the East Midlands.

And I will defend our nation’s sovereignty too. We have given far too many powers to the undemocratic, bureaucratic out of touch European Union, and its high time we drew a line in the sand and said ‘no further’.

I can guarantee you, there’s no danger of me ‘going native’ in the European Parliament. I will work with the EU on issues of benefit of this region, but if Brussels wants to take more power from our Parliament, or stifle our businesses with yet more regulation, then I will be their biggest and most vocal critic.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have gotten to know the Brussels beast well. But I believe it always takes a strong woman to tame a beast, and I will fight with every ounce of strength to rein it in. I have knowledge, experience, passion and commitment and as your MEP, I will use these attributes to ensure the East Midlands finally gets the better deal it deserves from Brussels.

EU Threatens Traditional Rural Cider

There is currently an EU review in process which threatens the continuance of a tax exemption for cider-makers producing less than 70 hectolitres a year. If the exemption is removed it is likely that many small, rural cider makers who make high quality cider by traditional methods will be forced out of business. Please sign the petition to save rural cider on the Downing Street website!

Conservative Women’s Annual AGM

On the 12th of November I attended the Conservative Women’s Organisation Conference in Westminster. It was a huge success and incredibly well attended with well over 600 women - and a few brave men!

Our morning session focused on Africa and the need to find long term solutions to Africa’s problems. We heard from an excellent panel including Baroness Chalker where the conclusion was that Trade not Aid is what’s needed.

We then heard from Zac Goldsmith on being greener and William Hague on the important role of women as peacemakers in areas of conflict. He cited Rwanda as an example of a democracy being built by women with 48% of their ministers being women.

David Cameron then joined us for the final speech which focused on our Conservative review of rape. Its astounding that of all reported cases only 5% will be convicted. Hearing David talk about the need to address this serious crime giving more support to the victim and seeing justice done was inspirational and made me very proud to be a Conservative.

Chairman Fiona Hodgson and her team did a fabulous job in putting together such a fantastic programme. It was lovely to see women of all ages represented and actively participating in policy debate. The CWO have an important role in encouraging women to get involved in politics and enabling them to stand for election.

Every member of the Conservative Party is automatically a member of the CWO and I would encourage those of you out there to contact your regional officer or local branch to get involved. I am helping to set up a new branch for the the Leicestershire Northamptonshire and Rutland area. Our first event is on the 8th December in Loughborough. For further details check out the Conservative Women’s Organisation website or click here to contact me.