Peter Skinner MEP has spoken out on International Women’s Day to highlight the impact Tory-led Government cuts are having on women cross the South East.

“One of the key themes of International Women’s Day is ‘Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures’. But I fear women are being let down and disproportionally affected by the Tory-led Government cuts which have given us the highest female unemployment for 23 years.

“On top of that women are more likely to suffer as a result of pension changes and are losing out through cuts to children’s services, pregnancy grants and Working Tax Credits. David Cameron’s Government is turning the clock back on women’s equality.”

Eurostar passengers travelling through the Channel Tunnel 250 feet under the seabed will soon be able to able to use their mobile phones.

The new signal technology should be installed on the south tunnel in time for the London Olympics and will put an end to the 23 mile undersea blackout between Folkestone and Calais. Coverage on the north tunnel will follow later in the year. 2G and 3G coverage will be provided.

The planned upgrades follow a €14 million deal between Eurotunnel, the company which operates the Channel Tunnel, and French telecom operators Bouygues Telecom, Orange SFR and Free.

Peter Skinner MEP:

“As a regular Eurostar traveller I’m delighted to hear that signal under the sea will soon be a reality. Many of us rely on mobile phones and Read the rest of this article »

25 years ago today on the 6^th of March 1987 the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry capsized moments after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge for Dover, killing 193 passengers and crew.

Peter Skinner MEP:

“I’ll never forget that day 25 years ago.  We must remember the lessons of that disaster and make sure it never happens again. On today’s anniversary my thoughts are with the survivors and friends and families of the 193 victims.”

Euro MP Peter Skinner has expressed his shock at new figures which show the number of people sleeping rough in the South East of England has increased by 39% – way ahead of the national trend.

Figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government show rough sleeping across England in 2011 has increased by 23% from 1,768 to 2,181. Of that total 430 of are in the South East; the second highest regional figure in the country. The North East had the lowest figure with just 32 rough sleepers.

South East MEP Peter Skinner said:
“It’s terrible that people should have to face cold nights out on the street at all. It’s a scandal that in today’s society the number facing that reality is increasing. Read the rest of this article »