Tory MP Mark Reckless says UK is now a fringe member of #EU, similar to Switzerland. “This is a hugely significant change” #r4today

Friday 9th December 2011 07:32 via webReplyRetweetFavorite

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“The Prime Minister has been as good as his word.

“He said he would not agree to a new treaty unless he was able to safeguard the interests of the City. The other EU countries would not agree to safeguard the interests of the City and therefore David Cameron has said no.

“I think this is a very significant change. All of us will need time to see how the institutions of Europe are going to move forward.

“Nicolas Sarkozy was talking about a re-founding of the European Union. Now we see that is happening among between 23 and 26 countries and we are remaining outside that. That now gives us the opportunity to negotiate a new relationship with the European Union that is in our interests.

“We need to look to negotiate bilaterally, in the same way that Switzerland does, to protect our interests. That is the way this appears to be developing and I think we need to do that to secure our own independence and make our own decisions in our own interests.”

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless married Catriona Brown on Saturday, October 1. The wedding took place at 3.30pm in the Lady Chapel of Westminster Cathedral, the centre of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales.

Mark was not quite able to convince Catriona of the merits of Manchester and the Conservative party conference as a honeymoon destination, and the couple are heading off for a short break in Italy to start their married life together.

Mark proposed to Catriona on the rooftop of her apartment building at sunset with beautiful views across London. He managed to catch Catriona by surprise.

Catriona said “When Mark got down on bended knee with a beautiful diamond ring, it was a fairytale moment. I hadn’t been expecting Mark to propose, and when he did it was the most incredibly special moment. I love Mark and being with him”.

Mark, who was elected as MP in May last year, added “I am very proud that Catriona is going to be my wife. We had a wonderful wedding day and are very grateful to our parents.

“Thank you to everyone who has sent congratulations and good wishes to us, and a particular ‘thank you’ to my constituent Noni McDowell for making us such a wonderful cake.”

Birmingham and Beyond has kindly been supplied with two wedding photographs, which can be seen below. They are Copyright © Heartfelt Weddings 2011 and reproduced with kind thanks to Petra Navarro-Clark.

After what has been described by the Medway Messenger as a “whirlwind romance”, the couple announced that they are to marry on Saturday, 1 October at Westminster Cathedral.

Mark proposed to Ms Brown, a Scottish-born lawyer who is currently living in London, two months ago, after meeting the lawyer in February, though he admits it didn’t go quite to plan.

“I did try to get her to go to Regent’s Park and propose there,” he said. “But she didn’t want to go for a walk, so I had to propose on the rooftop next to all the scaffolding at [St Pancras International] station.”

In offering some empathy, Mark, I found myself in a similar situation when I proposed to my fiancée two years ago.

For her birthday, I had taken her to London, booked a four-star hotel, a table at a highly recommended restaurant and tickets to see a musical. The plan was then to take a walk along the River Thames and propose under the moonlight and stars.

Typically for October, though, the wind was whistling and the rain was lashing down, so the slightly less romantic option of proposing in the restaurant was in order…

Anyway, proving he is only human like the rest of us, Mark admitted he “was feeling nervous before but I thought she would say ‘yes’.”

His blushing-bride-to-be added that “when Mark got down on bended knee and proposed, it was a fairy tale moment. I love him very much, and we are incredibly excited about starting our new married lives together.”

I am sure each and every Birmingham and Beyond reader will join me in wishing Mark Reckless and Catriona Brown the very best of luck for their wedding and a very happy life together!

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless has teamed up with TV presenter Angela Rippon to support this year?s Carers Week (13-19 June) and recognise the contribution made by those people in Rochester and Strood and throughout the UK who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled.

The theme for Carers Week 2011 is ?The True Face of Carers?. It calls for greater recognition for the diverse range of people who have caring responsibilities. The work they carry out is vital for their families and friends, and for their communities.

Mark and Angela have joined together to pay tribute to carers, and to urge that they receive more support in their caring roles. Mark said:

“Thousands of people in Rochester and Strood sacrifice not only their time, but also their money and their health in order to care for a loved one. Together they save this country an incredible ?119 billion every year. I am particularly keen to see us do more to support the excellent work carers do and particularly the aspect of respite care, as I feel it is hugely important that our carers are able to be given time to relax and rejuvenate, safe in the knowledge that their loved ones are receiving the care and attention they need.”

Angela Rippon has personal experience of being a carer. She says:

“For a number of years now I?ve become aware of the extraordinary job that carers do throughout this country. I feel that it?s important that anybody who has any knowledge at all stands up and be counted for them and make the job that they do public, because they should not be invisible, they should be out there and being seen as the heroes and heroines that they are. It?s a strain that people accept willingly and lovingly, and if they?re prepared to do that, I think that as a civilised nation we should be prepared to do something in return.”

Others supporting this campaign include: Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Jason OBE, Jack Charlton OBE and Martin Lewis.

Carers Week is organised by a partnership of 9 national charities: Age UK, Carers UK, Counsel & Care, Crossroads Care, Dementia UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Parkinson?s UK, and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

For more information about local events and activities taking place as part of Carers Week, visit www.carersweek.org.

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless joined the Mayor of Medway, Cllr David Brake, and Tom Willis, Regional Operations Director for Royal Mail, for Monday?s ground-breaking ceremony at the site of Royal Mail?s new ?super? sorting office in Norman Road, Strood.

The ?Medway Mail Centre?, which is expected to be finished in January 2012, was hailed by Mr Willis as being set to be ?the best mail centre in the world?. It will see mail services for the whole of Kent and work currently done in Tonbridge, Dartford, Maidstone and Canterbury, consolidated in Medway.

Speaking after the ceremony, Mark said “this is an exciting project which could provide a real boost to the local economy and 700 Strood based jobs. In the near-term the Royal Mail is providing generous assistance to workers currently based at other locations, including season tickets for travel to Strood. Over time though the centre will recruit large numbers of local people.

“The location of the new centre on formerly developed but currently unused land is a significant step forward in the wider regeneration of Strood, and I welcome Royal Mail?s decision to locate their sorting hub here in Medway.

“Once again Medway is showing that it is open for business and has the infrastructure to attract large-scale investment into the Towns. My congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen and best wishes to the Royal Mail workforce and the building contractors who are embarking on such a substantial project.”

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless visited the Mid Kent College campus in Medway yesterday.

Mark was given a guided tour round facilities at the new ?84 million campus by vice principal (curriculum) Margaret Perigo.

The newly built campus off Great Lines in Gillingham replaced the old Horsted and City Way buildings when it opened to students in September 2009.

Mid Kent College, which also has a campus in Maidstone, offers a mixture of part-time and full-time qualifications ranging from foundation Level 1 qualifications, to Level 3 A-Levels and equivalent, to apprenticeship provision. It also trains Royal Engineers in many trade skills as part of a highly successful joint venture.

Amongst the numerous modern facilities at the college are animal handling labs, hair and beauty salons, music production suites and construction workrooms, all purpose-built to suit the needs of students.

Mark was especially pleased to see metalwork students participating in renovating installations from the Medway Queen.

Mark also welcomed the news that Mid Kent College would be limiting fees to the order of ?5,700 for their University of Kent accredited degree-level courses, rather than the ?9,000 which most universities are now set to charge, even though Mark voted against the rise in Parliament.

Mark said?”regeneration goes hand in hand with investment into higher and further education locally, which has long been a cross-party priority in Medway. By investing in our young people locally, we are not only investing in their future prospects but investing in the Medway economy.

“I was very pleased to be invited to view the wonderful facilities at Mid Kent College and was very impressed with the quality of what is on offer there for our young people and the wider community.”

Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless has welcomed a refurbished branch of Barclays Bank in Chatham High Street.

The atmosphere in the High Street was buzzing, with performances from dancers, sword swallowers and other artists, as Mark and Chatham and Aylesford MP?Tracey Crouch officially opened the branch.

Residents and shoppers were also given the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the Barclays Premier League Trophy.

Speaking after the event Mark said:

“I was delighted to open this exceptionally well-refurbished branch. It?s important that companies continue to invest in Chatham High Street and Barclays has done just that.

“It was a particular pleasure to open this branch from the Premier League sponsors, and with Tracey, who has successfully coached a girls? football team herself.”

The Rochester and Strood MP joined fellow Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, who represents Chatham and Aylesford, during the students’ most recent news day, where teams were tasked with producing 15 minute news broadcasts as part of their course.

Laura Hartmann, a student at the university’s Centre for Journalism, welcomed Mark?s help, saying “for us as students, it was great getting a sitting MP into our tv studio as a live guest ? especially as it was the first ever TV news day for us second years.”

Mark responded by saying that “it?s great to be asked and to be able to assist local students when I can. I really enjoyed the experience and would like to wish everyone involved the very best with their studies.”

Mark Reckless, the MP for Rochester and Strood, was delighted to present local hero James Hargreaves with his GSM Medal with clasp Near East after taking up his case with the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Mr Hargreaves of Cliffe Woods had previously been unable to get the MoD to accept his claim for award of the medal following his service with the 40th Field Regiment Royal Artillery during the Suez Crisis in 1956.

Mr Hargreaves sailed out from Cardiff on the US ship S.S. Kingsbury to the conflict zone with a small complement from his Regiment.

Although the ship was on the list of those eligible for the GSM with Near East clasp, the MoD had previously turned down James?s request for the medal as the deployment was not shown on his service record.

In a bid to resolve the situation James turned to Mark Reckless to help break the deadlock with the MoD, and Mark was more than happy to take up the case on behalf of his constituent.

After writing to the Medal Office asking them to review Mr Hargreaves? case, the MoD wrote back to advise they would look into the matter. Shortly thereafter the MoD confirmed that, following Mark?s intervention, they had agreed to issue the medal to James for his service during the Suez Crisis.

Speaking after meeting Mr Hargreaves, Mark said??I was absolutely delighted when I heard that the Medal Office had agreed to issue Mr Hargreaves with his GSM with clasp Near East.

“Mr Hargreaves had tried for a long time to get the Ministry of Defence to review his claim for the medal, but had had no joy in doing so and subsequently asked for my assistance.

“I was able to write to the MoD as Mr Hargreaves? Member of Parliament to insist they look into the case, and I am glad to report that the matter has now been resolved to my constituent?s satisfaction.

“Being able to help people like Mr Hargreaves was the primary reason why I entered politics. Casework is a large part of the role of being an MP, and I am honoured to be in the position to help a local hero like James gain the recognition he so richly deserves.

“It was an absolute pleasure to meet James in person and thank him for his service to our country. I hope the medal will be a source of pride and pleasure for him for many years to come.”

In response to the meeting, James Hargreaves said “I?d like to thank Mark most sincerely for his help and assistance in procuring my GSM and clasp Near East. I am sure that without Mark?s help I would still be trying to obtain it.

“Thank you again.”

Mark Reckless MP is calling on the residents of Rochester and Strood to help choose the charity he will endorse as his constituency charity nomination in this year?s Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Awards.

The CSJ Awards celebrate and give a ?10,000 prize to local organisations that are successfully transforming the lives of people and families trapped in poverty. Previous winning ?poverty fighters? have been involved in youth work, addiction recovery, alternative education, elder care, and many other ventures.

Members of the public are asked to nominate their chosen charity by using the form below. Mark will then choose one charity from all submitted to be put forward as his constituency nomination.

Speaking of the awards, Mark said:??The Centre for Social Justice Awards do a superb job in recognising and rewarding effective poverty-fighting groups across the UK. I hope the residents in Rochester and Strood will help me to decide on the charity I will nominate for this year?s award.

“There are many, many people across our constituency who work tirelessly and selflessly to help others who are less fortunate or just need a helping hand, and I think these awards are a fantastic way of recognising their hard work. Charities are the heart and soul of the Big Society so I welcome the opportunity to give something back.

“Medway has a lower average income than many other areas of Kent, and we do have pockets of deprivation in this constituency. Many people find themselves trapped by their circumstances through no fault of their own, and it is important that we support those people wishing to lift themselves out poverty who may need a helping hand.

“The Centre for Social Justice?s aim is to put social justice at the heart of British politics, and to see a reversal of social breakdown in the UK. I wholeheartedly support my colleague Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith and the CSJ in their efforts and hope the residents of Rochester and Strood will join me in highlighting the crucial work done by charities in our constituency.?

Residents can nominate their chosen charity by visiting www.markreckless.com and using the form provided. The deadline for submissions to Mark is 21st January 2011 as applications must be filed by 31st January 2011.

For more information on the awards, please visit http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/default.asp?pageRef=39.