In The Press » Feb 6th 2012 - Anger at moves to have EU flag flown at sports events
Anger at moves to have EU flag flown at sports events
'...UKIP's Derek Clark attacks plans which could even see the EU flag on sports shirts ...'
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UK Independence Party
From the Office of Derek Clark, MEP, East Midlands
Rowan House, 23 Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5AT
Tel: 01604 620064 Fax: 01604 636002
Email: mep@derekclarkmep.org.uk
Feb 6, 2012
Ref: 075
Controversial plans to fly the EU flag at sporting events and have it displayed on the shirts of UK sportsmen have been slammed by an East Midlands UKIP MEP.
Derek Clark, who voted against the proposals, said the plans were outrageous and went to show how far the EU was running scared of popular opinion.
He also hit out at Labour and Lib Dem MEPs from the region who have backed the idea.
He said: "I can only take this as the EU running scared.
"It knows the people of Europe are becoming less and less enthusiastic for the EU. This is a political attempt to bolster confidence.
"Over the years the EU has drip fed this self-promoting material in an underhand way, now it is coming out in its true colours by trying to persuade sports organisations to fly their wretched flag over events entirely unconnected with the EU."
He also attacked fellow East Midlands MEPs, Bill Newton Dunn, Lib Dem, and Glennis Willmott, Labour, who voted in favour of the scheme.
Mr Clark said: "This is EU propaganda, pure and simple and it's disappointing to see British politicians voting in favour of it.
"They should also have given the red card to these outrageous proposals."
The controversial scheme will now go to the European Commission to consider how to draw up legislation to put before member states for approval.
The idea followed a ruling last year in Mr Clark's own constituency last year when the University of Northampton was fined more than £56,000 for not displaying the EU logo.
It was forced to do so to acknowledge it had received funding from the European Regional Development Fund.
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