Last week the European Parliament reached agreement with national governments and the European Commission on the creation of a new European supervisory architecture for financial services.

I was one of the five MEPs on the Parliament’s negotating team (see photo, right, of trialogue negotiations), my chief responsibility being for the creation of the new European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority. It was a hard slog. In the end we had around 25 trialogues, which is the technical term for the negotiations. I believe that must be quite near a record!

The reason why the negotiations were so ardeous was that the legislation is so important and far-reaching. The purpose is to prevent another breakdown of communications between national supervisory authorities, as occurred between the UK, Iceland and the Netherlands over Icesave, or between the Belgian and Dutch authorities over Fortis.

I won’t go into all the details on the powers of the new authorities here,  interested readers can find out more at – http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/042-80951-245-09-36-907-20100902IPR80950-02-09-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm

Suffice to say that all parties came out of the negotiations fairly happy with the outcome. The powers of the new supervisory authorities are concorrent with the roles bestowed upon them. National governments retain ultimate responsibility, as should be the case given that they are the ones responsible to tax-payers for bail-outs. However, the new bodies have enough teeth to help overcome some of the problems witnessed during the last crisis. I am very pleased with the result.

The office of Peter Skinner is recruiting a Research & Constituency Assistant for the South East office.

Applicants should send their applications to Peter Skinner MEP, 99 Kent Road, Dartford DA1 2AJ or via email southeast {at} peterskinnermep(.)eu by 5pm on Friday, 10 September 2010.

Research & Constituency Assistant

Position: Research & Constituency Assistant

Incumbent: vacant

Location: UK, 99 Kent Road, Dartford DA1 2AJ (subject to review)

Salary Range: to be advised

Full time: 42 hours per week including occasional work in evenings and at weekends

Benefits: to be advised

Responsible to: Regional Office Director

Accountable to: Member of the European Parliament

Description:

• Ensure a prompt and efficient response and management of all enquiries to the MEP by telephone, email, correspondence or by personal visit, liaising with the Regional Office Director and the MEP’s Assistant in the Brussels office
• Work with Brussels scheduler to set up UK-based appointments. Collate invitations for agreement with the MEP, ensure written communication or apologies in good time
• Assist with communications outreach including bi-annual “South East Matters”, monthly e-newsletter and work with contractor on website design and update
• Research and prepare responses to casework initiated in UK and Brussels
• Research and advise the MEP on political matters, in conjunction with the MEP’s other staff; maintain a general awareness of regional issues and of the MEP’s parliamentary work
• Assist with the organisation of bi-annual constituent visits to the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg
• Attend, when necessary, Labour Party meetings such as Regional Conference
• Attend other constituency meetings as directed, from time to time
• Accompany MEP on visits across the region as required
• Develop and maintain good relations with the regional Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties and Labour party branches, Labour councillors and MPs in the constituency, trade unions and other labour movement organisations providing information to them about the MEP’s work
• Maintain an awareness of Party activity in the region and nationally, especially conferences and policy forums, front bench visits, by-elections, social and fundraising activities, ensuring high-level participation by the MEP whenever possible
• Organise direct campaigning opportunities for the MEP with local Labour Party members including surgeries, street stalls, membership events, contributions to Party newsletters and leaflets, and in relation to local, national and future European elections
• Develop and maintain good contacts with a range of organisations in the region including regional bodies, local authorities, health provides, public utilities, business and voluntary organisations, and to maintain good public relations with them on behalf of the MEP
• Undertake all administrative tasks including full record-keeping required to support the duties of this post. Compile and maintain databases of contacts for the MEP in relation to his work in the region
• Maintain absolute confidentiality about the MEP’s affairs
• Ensure cover for the constituency office, assisting with covering the duties of other staff during sickness / leave absence, and undertaking other duties of a similar nature and responsibility as required.

Requirements:

• Previous experience of research and casework
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• IT skills, able to use Microsoft Office and Outlook
• Driving licence
• Qualification in business administration preferred
• Political experience and knowledge about UK and European political systems
• English as a first language, knowledge of French helpful  

As MEPs from the most southerly and northerly constituencies we are backing David Miliband’s bid to be Leader of the Labour Party after hearing the views of 4 of the 5 candidates. We fear for the welfare of the most vulnerable in society and the lowest paid under the coalition Government. They need Labour back in power as soon as possible. Our duty is clear – to back the candidate most likely to achieve this. David struck us as having the drive, the programme and the commitment to make it happen.

We were impressed by David’s commitment to Europe and the role it can play in helping to build a fairer world. He has a strong reputation among social democrats throughout Europe and the commitment he demonstrated as Foreign Minister to promote active and constructive UK participation in the European Union will be invaluable.

Comment from Peter Skinner: “David was the first of the candidates to ask for our support, but we knew him already, as did a lot of MEPs, social democrats and those from across the political spectrum. David was well-known in Europe as a committed and forward-looking foreign minister. He has great respect among all of us here, and we know he is as committed as we are to seeing British engagement to help build a strong, outward-looking European Union that looks to tackle our common problems.”

Comment from David Martin: “At a time when Europe is facing big challenges and opportunities in tackling climate change, reforming the banking sector, strengthening our commitment to international development and securing balanced trade agreements, we need a leader committed to pursuing a constructive and positive role for the UK in the EU. We believe the dedication and drive in international affairs which charactarised David’s time as Foreign Secretary would be fundamental in his role as leader.”

David Martin MEP

Peter Skinner MEP

Among the many injustices of George Osborne’s first budget, a particular concern of mine is a proposal that will damage the competitiveness of employers in the South East, just as the region begins to recover from recession. Under the Tory chancellor’s plans, companies in the South East would not be exempt from £5,000 national insurance savings that competitors throughout the rest of the UK will benefit from.

Osborne is wrong to apply a one-size fits all approach to the entire South East region of Britain, which is vast and diverse. The South East is not London, it contains some poorer areas in need of further investment; Thanet for example has unemployment levels of around 9%. Osborne’s plans will damage the South East economy and make its companies less competitive.

The coalition has already begun to impose heavy burdens upon the South East. The suspension of £23m funding to the Kent Thameside Strategic Transport Programme will take away vital funding to the Thames Gateway and the national economy as a whole. The government has turned its back on jobs and growth in the economy and is already cutting vital services, as the Kent police force, which will have to make £20million worth of savings, has found out to the cost of the local community.

Budget not fair and not forward-looking!

More generally the Con-Dem Coalition’s Budget is unfair and relies on non-progressive means to get Britain out of recession. We all know that the debt needs to be cut, but the Chancellor’s plans will impose burdens on those least able to bear them. An increase in VAT will hit pensioners and the unemployed hardest. The huge cuts in public services as welfare will mean that we will soon feel the pinch of the coalition’s cuts.

Another Lib Dem let-down

What else is poignant in all of this is that Lib Dems have been willing participants, not just cheerleaders, to the Tory axeman. Clegg and Cable told us that under the Lib Dems there would be no return to Tory cuts; instead they’ve let down all those people who put their faith in them to deliver a fairer Britain.

Government showing no faith in young people

Depressingly the real losers from the budget will be children and young people; the sad fact is many of them have already lost, witness the swathes of school children now denied free school meals. As well as this the Future Jobs Fund, created with the aim of getting 150,000 young people into work, has been ditched along with child trust funds. For those of us who supported a government intent on eradicating child poverty this budget is depressing reading. The Chancellor has shown that this Government will wield the axe and hope for the best without regard for the future of our young people.