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Yorkshire Post - June 27th: Jonathan demolishes europhile misinformation over Lisbon Treaty

JAMES Wagstaff (Yorkshire Post, June 23) claims that the whole point of the Lisbon Treaty was to "improve democratic accountability and efficiency" in the EU, and that therefore eurosceptics should support it.

I've read the full text of the Lisbon Treaty and the measures claimed to improve democratic accountability are pure window-dressing: citizens and national parliaments jumping through enough near-impossible hoops will be allowed to ask the Commission to merely consider or reconsider a decision.

If by "efficiency" he means reducing the UK's power to block unwanted EU legislation, the surrender of vetoes, a common EU Foreign Minister and foreign policy, common EU asylum policy, moves towards a common defence policy, and allowing the Treaty to be amended at will without need for a fresh Treaty - then the Lisbon Treaty would make the EU more "efficient". But I cannot see why James Wagstaff believes that eurosceptics should support it.

Yorkshire Post - June 17th: Jonathan responds to Ireland's courageous vote against the Lisbon Treaty

CONGRATULATIONS to the people of Ireland for voting "no" to the Lisbon Treaty. Despite huge opinion poll leads at the start of the campaign and the backing of Ireland's biggest political parties, the "yes" campaign wilted when the arguments were aired on
both sides.

But why is the UK's future determined in Ireland? Shouldn't our Government have had the courage to allow us to make up our own minds?

(Also published 14/06/2008, ITV Teletext) 

TalkSport Radio - June 9th: Jonathan speaks out against proposals for a Congestion Charge in Manchester

Jonathan spoke out against the ‘cosy consensus' of the so-called main parties.  He pointed out the huge difference between London and Manchester: although he opposes the Congestion Charge in London, at least London has a public transport system which is quick and efficient due to the Underground and a far higher population density.  Jonathan hit out at Labour, Conservatives and Lib Dems, asking "Why can't the government understand that we need more carrot, less stick?" - and advocated the UKIP policy of lower fuel tax, whilst claiming that the government should reduce tax on the most fuel-efficient vehicles. 

Yorkshire Post - June 9th: Jonathan supports UKIP's policy of referenda on key issues

GEORGE Senior (Yorkshire Post, June 4) presents arguments in favour of reintroducing the death penalty; the Rev Tony Buglass (May 27) is firmly opposed.

However, since no country can remain members of the European Union and reintroduce capital punishment, it is a complete non-issue for Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats who remain firmly committed to Britain's EU membership.

I fully support the policy of the UK Independence Party on this issue, which would allow the public to call a referendum on capital punishment.

For many years, I have grappled with my own personal opinions on the death penalty, and cannot honestly say which way I would vote - so I shall neither endorse nor condemn either view. The issue should be resolved by the people who matter - the voters.