Here are the responses from Jury Team Candidate Roger Whitfield who is running in the South West. Roger's full Jury Team profile can be viewed here.If you like what Roger has to say, you can vote for him by texting ROGWHI01 to 86837 (25p + Standard Rate)
Roger, like many of the respondents has elaborated a bot on the True/False answers, to allow for like for like comparison I have shortened again and shown where I have done so. Again this is not intended to misrepresent Roger, and he is free to elaborate further on any points in the comments field. If you would like to ask questions for Roger you can leave them in the comments, or contact him direct via the details on his Jury Team Profile.
Please answer True or False to these statements:
1. The EU should have even more control over the governing of member states including the UK.
False
2. The EU is the future of Continental Europe; the UK should be less resistant to this and more willing to be engaged with EU partners.
True, [response shortened]
3. The EU is fundamentally undemocratic in how it is made up and how it functions.
False, [response shortened]
4. If elected to the EU Parliament I will always vote in favour of returning legislative powers to member states.
False, [response shortened]
5. Counties like Iceland and Norway should be made to join the EU.
False, [response shortened]
6. Ireland was wrong to vote NO in their referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
False. [response shortened]
7. The main reason why people are against the EU in the UK is because the Tabloid media runs scare stories.
False, [response shortened]
8. I believe the UK should be a part of a federal Europe, whether as the UK or as component nations or regions.
False. [response shortened]
9. The UK should leave the EU as swiftly and as amicably as possible.
False. [response shortened]
10. The UK Parliament should be sovereign. No laws made by the EU should be above the law making decisions of the UK Parliament.
False, [response shortened]
11. The UK and France should give up their seats on the UN Security Council in favour of an EU representative.
False.
12. The city of London and UK financial institutions should be regulated by the EU.
False. [response shortened]
13. The EU has kept peace in Europe for 60 years.
False. [response shortened]
14. If the UK left the EU, it’s economy would never recover.
False.
15. Plans should be made for the UK to join the EURO within the next five year sitting of the EU parliament.
False. [response shortened]
16. UK armed forces should answer to a European Military Chain of Command.
False. [response shortened]
17. The EU should be allowed to collect taxes directly from European citizens and/or businesses. True. [response shortened]
18. There will never be war in Europe as long as the EU is strong.
False, [response shortened]
19. The UK should not be allowed to declare war without the approval of the EU.
False, [response shortened]
20. The UK should be allowed a referendum whether it accepts the EU Lisbon Constitutional Treaty before it comes into force.
True. [response shortened]
21. I am prepared to give up some small freedoms so that the UK and/or the EU governments can better protect us from terrorists.
True, [response shortened]
22. The EU should have control of EU wide policing to make standard the same across Europe, as well as centrally gather intelligence.
False. [response shortened]
23. UK Common Law is incompatible with European Courts. We should protect Common Law. False. [response shortened]
24. People who stand opposed to the EU should be punished.
False. [response shortened]
25. The Eurovision Song Contest is a wonderful form of European entertainment and the voting is in no way rigged.
False. I like the Eurovision Song contest, it is more than just entertainment, it is an expression of our individuality but the voting system definitely shows up each countries individual bias.
In no more than 200 words for each question, please tell us about the following:
Q. If you are elected to the EU Parliament, by what method and frequency will your expenses be made public?
I propose to publish on my website all expense claims and wages, only with real transparency can we be sure that no abuse is taking place. Ultimately I would like to see a central database of wages and expenses, updated monthly, and published on a single website.
Q. Have you ever stood for an elected position before?
Yes, I have previously served 4 years as a councillor in Portishead, and stood on two occasions for election to North Somerset Council.
Q. Do you have you own website or blog?
Yes, www.rogerwhitfield.co.uk
Q. Do you regularly read any particular newspapers or magazines? Who are your favourite writers/Journalists?
I do not prefer any single paper; I normally catch up with the headlines on the TV or radio and obtain more in depth news online.
Q. Why did you decide to stand for Jury Team instead of an existing political party?
I have previously been a member of the Labour Party. I have become disillusioned with the entire party political system; I can see no way that change will ever come from inside any of the main parties. We need people who can make judgements based on common sense in the interests of the public; unfortunately the party system and the use of the party whip stifles democracy.
Q. What is the very first thing you will do in your official capacity if elected?
Campaign for full transparency and regular publication of expenses, wages and pension arrangements, the people have the right to know exactly how much money their politicians are costing them. I will set an example by ensuring that all of my wages, expenses and pension arrangements are published monthly on my website.
Q. And, as you have been good enough to answer the above, in no more than 1,000 of your own words, tell us why we should vote for you.
I have lived and worked in the UK all of my life, I have been involved in community groups and projects as well as local politics. I have worked as an employee, a manager and a director and have a solid business background; I believe that people from the business world have a lot to bring to politics, particularly in the area of professionalism and accountability.
My experience has kept me in touch with “normal” people, why would we want to elect a career politician who has never had to deal with the harsh realities of life that affect the rest of us, instead our representatives should be people who have had real life experience.
In addition I also represent the Small to Medium Enterprise owner; I have seen firsthand the effects that Government and EU policies have had on SME’s. I will ensure that SME’s have a voice, I know that these business owners are the lifeblood of our economy, yet they are underrepresented because they are too busy working, and complying with regulation to have their voices heard.
The European Parliament is, whether we like it or not, important to all of us and our future; we are a part of an organisation that can deliver stability and economic benefits to all of us; currently it is failing to deliver. In business when you see something is broken you fix it. I want people to see that the EU we joined is broken and needs fixing, it will never be fixed by career politicians as they are the ones that broke it in the first place, it must be fixed by normal people with passion, vision, experience and above all common sense.
I want people to vote for me because I will deliver real benefits for Businesses, Employment and Economic growth, and above all I will do this in a calm and professional manner.
To everyone out there who does not intend to vote, or who is considering voting the same way as last time, I say the EU does not have to be an embarrassment to us, we can put people into the system that will make a difference, but that process starts with you, don’t abstain and don’t vote for a party that aims to destroy the EU; instead send a signal out to the world by voting for an Independent, stand up and say that YOU want things to change.
Vote for Roger Whitfield YOUR Independent candidate.
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