Jury Team Profile - Steve Partridge

Here are the responses to my questions from Jury Team Candidate Steve Partridge who is running in the Wales Primary.

Steve's full Jury Team profile can be seen, here.

If you would like to vote for Steve in the primary, text STEPAR01 to 86837 (25p + Standard Rate)

You can leave questions and comments for Steve in the comments field of this post, or via the contact details on Steve's Jury Team profile.

I have shortened some of Steve's responses, as I have with other respondents, but I have indicated where I have done this.


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. [response shortened]

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.

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.
True. [response shortened]

5. Counties like Iceland and Norway should be made to join the EU.
False

6. Ireland was wrong to vote NO in their referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
False Time will tell

7. The main reason why people are against the EU in the UK is because the Tabloid media runs scare stories.
False

8. I believe the UK should be a part of a federal Europe, whether as the UK or as component nations or regions.
True

9. The UK should leave the EU as swiftly and as amicably as possible.
False

10. The UK Parliament should be sovereign.
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. [response shortened]

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. [response shortened]

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

17. The EU should be allowed to collect taxes directly from European citizens and/or businesses.
Control of tax should remain local.
False

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

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

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. True [response shortened]

24. People who stand opposed to the EU should be punished.
False

25. The Eurovision Song Contest is a wonderful form of European entertainment and the voting is in no way rigged.
True. Without it there would not be as much fun the contest that is.


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?
Open for people to see on the web once per month.

Q. Have you ever stood for an elected position before?
No

Q. Do you have you own website or blog?
No just joined myspace, myface, twitter web site being created.

Q. Do you regularly read any particular newspapers or magazines?
Who are your favourite writers/Journalists? A regular reader of the Times and I like Emma Ford as a journalist. The Cambrian News, occasionally the Buxton Advertiser, Gaurdian, George Monbiot, Writers Sir John Houghton, Professor Bill George, Professor John Adair, Barbara Kellerman just to mention a few.

Q. Why did you decide to stand for Jury Team instead of an existing political party?
Tired of the two party system. Its becoming impossible to differentiate between the two. It is clear today’s society has moved on with devolution taking place and is going to be better off for it. The consistent tribal and publically displayed conflict between parties is not in the best interest of the nation as a whole.

The swing between the Conservatives and Labour is causing problems for today’s UK society. We need to allow for the local politics but also keep an eye more on how Europe and the global world can affect our wellbeing and in turn how our actions affect the rest of the world. The answer to this challenge lies in good communications between all UK nations, Europe and the other nations of the world.

Q. What is the very first thing you will do in your official capacity if elected?
Take a pay cut by demonstrating service before self.

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 care for and believe in the people of Wales. Wales has an exciting future in front of it and needs to maintain its historic culture whilst also recognising it is a multicultural and diverse society which is thriving in Wales. Whilst not a native of Wales I have spent many of my years enjoying the fantastic open spaces Wales has on offer and have lived in Wales for nearly five years making many new friends of all dominations. Wales needs to take the best things from the past and build a strong future for its people.

Given the opportunity to represent Wales in Europe I would be a strong voice for all the people of Wales. Independants can cross the whole political spectrum and should realise the different political interests that all parties have and ensure those interests are to the improvement of people residing in Wales. Politics in the Wales and the UK needs to change and re focus on the needs of the people and not the party.

As a nation Wales has the most exciting opportunity to bring new technologies to market which create a safer and cleaner place for all those residing in Wales and across the globe. This can only be done by concentrating on the great educational system it has in place and focus on those who wish to learn and apply that knowledge for the improvement of themselves and their fellow citizens. Internal investment is vital for Wales future and this can be done with the help of EU Funding.

Part of a new strategy for Wales should be working with those that believe leadership development is at the very heart of a well balanced and caring society. The opportunity for working with like minded people towards developing our young people as argued by Professor John Adair leadership development lies at the heart of this success and should be grabbed by Wales. This is one major opportunity I would pursue if voted in.

Wales is part of the wider European community and as such should remain in the EU. The EU is a force for good. By remaining positive and taking an optimistic view of the future allows for creativity to thrive. By undertaking good negotiation and political debate at the EU table can provide a brighter future for those within Wales and also those across the world by exporting this positive model. Lets stand for change and its our generation that can lead this.

The opposite to this action is of course with drawl for the EU table. Those with first hand experience of conflict in Europe will remember past conflicts due to the breakdown of political debate. This type of political break down must never be allowed to happen again in Europe.
At the heart of our society is having a duty of care for all our fellow country women and men. The cross party scandals are not in the best interests of the nation and people living in it. The misuse of taxpayers funds is a disgrace sucking much needed funds away from areas like the National Health Service and those serving in our armed forces.

It is clear that independent’s can attract people who wish to make a difference and are not driven by a financial need within a political career. I hope that more people from the other parties join the jury team for example Sir Menzies Cambell. The best teams are made up of an array of people from all walks of life and culture, today’s political system does not reflect this enough.

We as a United Kingdom and society need to change and Wales can lead this change by building bridges with all cultures whilst respecting its own history and language.