UKIP East Midlands
East Midlands MEP "betrayed" over Cameron's backing down on Brussels work rules
Monday, 5th December 2011
East Midlands MEP "betrayed" over Cameron's backing down on Brussels work rulesDerek Clark, UKIP MEP for the East Midlands and the party's employment spokesman, has said he is appalled that the Government has abandoned its pledge to immediately repatriate social and employment powers from Brussels.
Chris Grayling, employment minister, last month made headlines with a robust pledge to tackle EU red tape in order to help kick start the UK economy.
One such piece of restrictive EU legislation is the Working Time Directive.
Ahead of the key EU summit, Mr Grayling made clear that the key priority was a resolution to the eurozone crisis, not a repatriation of powers.
He also said that if this necessitated a treaty change then it is something that the Government would support.
Grayling's comments are seen as representative of the Prime Minister and the Government.
UKIP MEP for the East Midlands, Derek Clark, said:
"David Cameron has refused to get into ring. Even before the bell rings he has scarpered.
"His party's talk about repatriating powers from the EU was misleading and false. EU social and employment legislation is doing huge damage to the British economy and really must go.
"As a UKIP MEP I have been fighting to keep UK opt-outs of the EU's Working Time Directive for seven years now, and feel betrayed that David Cameron would give up so easily.
"This legislation is harmful to job creation in the East Midlands. I am appalled but not surprised that Cameron does not have the stomach to fight for our interests. It is now clear that only my party can be trusted to fight for British jobs in our region."
