Every home to pay ?257 towards next year's EU budget

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  • gmb45

    #1

    Every home to pay ?257 towards next year's EU budget

    Every household will have to pay ?257 towards the EU next year after Labour signed away much of Britain's hard-won budget rebate.

    Official figures show that our share of the EU budget is to soar by almost 60 per cent to ?6.4billion.

    The increase, which works out at ?92 a household, is detailed in a Treasury document released quietly by the Government just before Parliament rose for its summer break.
    Former PM Tony Blair (left) and Gordon Brown have been criticised for giving up a large chunk of British taxpayers' money to the EU for no return

    Former PM Tony Blair (left) and Gordon Brown have been criticised for giving a large chunk of British taxpayers' money to the EU for no return

    As usual, the bulk of the budget will go on aid to the EU's poorer countries and agricultural subsidies.

    This year Britain will pay ?4.1billion net to the EU - ?800million more than the ?3.3billion forecast by the Treasury, By 2010-11 the net figure will be ?6.4billion.

    The increases have been caused by extra demands for funding by new members, including Bulgaria and Romania.

    Britain's contribution will continue to shoot up as the Government's surrender of billions of rebate payments bites more deeply in future.

    Margaret Thatcher won the rebate in 1984. It was designed to compensate the UK for the massive costs of the Common Agricultural Policy, which benefits Britain much less than other countries because of its relatively small farming sector.

    Critics have attacked former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, then the Chancellor, for agreeing in 2005 to give up a large chunk of taxpayers' money for little return.
    French farmers benefit most from EU subsidies, getting back 98 per cent of their total contributions

    French farmers benefit most from EU subsidies, getting back 98 per cent of their total contributions

    There have even been suggestions the deal was struck to smooth Mr Blair's chances of becoming the first president of the EU.

    As part of the agreement, Britain secured promises of cuts to the CAP subsidies paid to farmers.

    But they have not materialised, thanks to the resistance of France and other countries who rake in billions.

    The latest increase is the largest year-on-year rise since 2003. The loss of the rebate has made Britain the second highest contributing member, behind Germany.

    Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Philip Hammond said: 'The consequences of Labour's rebate sellout are becoming clear.

    'At a time when our economy is in recession and public service budgets are under pressure, Labour's incompetence is allowing billions to be siphoned off to Brussels.
  • triked
    Newbie
    • Aug 2009
    • 1

    #2
    Thanks for this.
    I've got to agree with Gordon, it's better to reform the CAP than keep on with the unprecedented rebate Baroness Thatcher fought for (a bit of a power trip if you ask me)

    (First post BTW )

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    • waqasahmed
      DK Veteran
      • Feb 2009
      • 433

      #3
      What? We're poor in this country because of flipping recession. Why make us pay more to the EU. Taxes in this country, I do mind, but not as much
      Lose your memory sticks? Forget to backup? Why not get 2GB of free space online, and I get 250MB too

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