‘EU funding’ is our money

In it he, not for the first time in this newspaper, mentions ‘EU funding’ to the UK but does not inform us where this funding comes from. This gives the impression that such money is due to the largesse of the European Union, a gift from Brussels to us. It is however no such thing. As a net contributor to the EU this ‘EU funding’ is in fact British taxpayers’ cash. It is the part of the £53 million a day we pay to the EU that they deign to return and then tell us how we are to spend it. ‘EU funding’ is in reality OUR money.

Why is the MP for Wentworth and Dearne reticent when it comes to the above? Is it because he does not understand what being a net contributor to the EU really means? Worrying if the answer is yes, but surely Mr Healey is fully aware of how the EU operates, after all he has voted strongly in favour of Britain being further integrated into the EU whenever the matter has arisen at Westminster (ref: they work for you.com). I take it that a man who has voted to give away parts of our hard won sovereignty to unelected commissioners in Brussels must have researched deeply into this organisation before voting in such a way on such momentous matters. So why not give us the full picture on ‘EU funding’?

I realise that this may seem like nit-picking on my part but there is a point of vital importance that I am trying to make. A referendum on our membership of the EU looms. It is therefore incumbent on all our elected representatives from the Prime Minister down to the Right Honourable Member for Wentworth and Dearne,  to provide us with all the facts on the nature of the European Union and our relationship with it. It is their duty to do so for only then can we, the electorate, make a fully informed decision when the time comes. And the time will come because David Cameron has promised us a vote and it is not like him to promise a referendum on the EU and not deliver, is it?...Oh... hang on...on second thoughts...

Rob Sanderson, Low Golden Smithies, Swinton