Commuters still face price hikes

Under pressure from rail campaigners and Peter Skinner the Tory-led Government has backpedalled and reversed their plan to hike rail fares.

The move came as part of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

The Tory-led Government’s planned changes to the way fares are calculated meant passengers faced eye watering average price increases of 8%- on many routes amounting to an increase of over £1,000 by 2015. Even after the U-turn price increases are still likely to top 6%.

The Euro MP is calling for a rethink of rail price plans and has been demanding a meeting with Ministers for months.

“Well done to rail campaigners across the region. I’m pleased that the Government has backed down over Read the rest of this article »

The Anglian Monarch has been removed from service

“UK ships will now have to rely on the French to come to the rescue if they fall into trouble in the waters of the Channel,” says Peter Skinner MEP.

“This is further proof that the Government’s cuts are going too far and it’s a sorry state of affairs.”

The Coastguard coordinates maritime search and rescue in UK coastal waters – helping people in distress at sea or responding to emergencies on the coast or shoreline such as cliff and mud rescues.

But Government cuts are beginning to bite. On 30th September the British tug, Anglian Monarch, was controversially removed from the Dover Straits – one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world – along with three other UK tugs. Read the rest of this article »

Peter Skinner & Kent animal welfare activist Reg Bell

Peter Skinner MEP has contacted Defra and the European Commission to demand that the transport license of Johannes Onderwater be suspended.

Onderwater is the biggest exporter of live calves from Britain, using an old soviet tank carrier to ship thousands of young animals abroad.

An investigation by the Sunday Times has revealed that Johannes Onderwater is transporting animals despite being convicted of a serious animal welfare offense in 2009 at Dover Magistrate Court. European Regulations mean that conviction should prevent him from holding a license but Read the rest of this article »

Peter at Strand House in Rye

Peter Skinner’s written declaration calling for a ban on pesticides which may be damaging bee populations has secured over 100 signatures in the European Parliament.

In March the MEP launched his campaign for a blanket ban on neonicotinoid pesticides at The Strand House near Rye with bee keepers Hugh Davie and Cathy Pope. The campaign followed a UN report that humans must change their behaviour to save bee populations.

Spearheading the campaign was Peter’s European Written Declaration backing the ban and calling for further research. As the window Read the rest of this article »