MAGregionsandclubsMAGregionsMAGregionsandclubsMAGregions A tale of
Persistence
Members of E Mids MAG met Bill
Newton-Dunn MEP, the groupʼs Lib-Dem representative, to discuss EU proposals for motorcycles. It took some doing.
The members highlighted their concerns with the proposals regarding:
• Mandatory automatic headlights on • Mandatory ABS on all motorcycles above 125cc • Mandatory on-board diagnostic equipment • Anti-Tampering and type approval measures
• Regular random roadside spot checks
• Small series and individual vehicle approvals.
Mr Newton-Dunn acknowledged his lack of understanding on the subject and the effect the proposals may have on riders. However, he said that as a result of the meeting he is now keen to have more talks with motorcyclists on the issues in general and to learn more about motorcycles and how the EU proposals will affect riders and the motorcycle trade. To this end, he is prepared to arrange a meeting at the EU Parliament and to extend an open invitation to all other MEPs to attend. Unfortunately he stressed repeatedly that any such meeting must take place in Brussels, not where he represents his voters in the East Midlands. As Mr Newton-Dunn claimed to be most concerned with 'green', environmental and
fuel/pollution-saving issues, this rather seems to fly in the face of an energy saving agenda. His justification however, is that it's no use e-mailing him and expecting to receive considered replies or to initiate purposeful and educational correspondence,
Mr Newton-Dunn in the green cardigan with assorted MAG members
as he receives a huge number of e-mails every day on all possible types of issues which his constituents are concerned with and he cannot possibly read them all, or even give each his personal attention. In consequence he instructs his assisting administrative staff to screen them and bring to his attention only those which he has flagged up as being issues in which he is interested or which involve ongoing projects at that time, an attitude which rather precludes his ever hearing constituents’ new concerns. In reference to all the
correspondence he has received from the motorcycle lobby to date he said “Sending e-mails is a useless activity when my office knows that I do not ride a motorbike and am not a member of the Internal Market committee (IMCO).”
Mr Newton-Dunn had been ignoring correspondence prior to IMCO ever becoming involved. As a non-committee MEP he will still be expected to vote on the regulation at the Plenary Session of Parliament next year, so should be aware of the contents. MAG rep Sean Buckley has
described himself as: “Still struggling to decide what I think, and I don't know how typical our MEPs attitude and administrative style is”.
Mr Newton-Dunn has told the MAG group that he doesn’t have a constituency office in the UK, which was why MAG members arranged the village hall venue. This prompts the question - are the MAG members the only constituents Mr Newton-Dunn has ever met?
While Sean says he “can understand the difficulties which he (the MEP) must have in dealing with such a varied correspondence from a large geographical area, I had thought that the point of having a democratic representative was that I could contact them and be assured that they would investigate and address my issues, providing me with an appropriate reply.”
Sean further speculates that it does seem to be the lobbying industry, both in the UK and particularly the EU, that really seems to be the main way by which anything actually gets brought to the attention of MEPs and wonders if this is further
evidence of a democratic deficit. In conclusion, Sean thinks that the group’s meeting was useful and hopefully constructive, although far from easy to arrange. All who attended came out feeling that they had achieved something positive, certainly the outcome was better than preliminary correspondence had led them to expect. Sean wishes to thank the following for attending the meeting, some of them travelled considerable distances to make it. Trev Bridgwood, particularly for making the initial and continuing contacts to press Mr Dunn to address our issues and to hold this meeting with us at all. Mitch Elliott for sorting out the meeting place and refreshments, Andy Carrot, Lincolnshire Regional MAG Rep, Jules Macve, Derby MAG Local Rep, Wendy Coy, Mid Lincs MAG Co-rep and from MAG Lincolnshire, Glenn Jones, Alexander Bridgwood, Scouse, from Derby MAG, Kev Hillier, Peak and District MAG Vice Rep. Report from Sean Buckley, Peak and District MAG local Rep.
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