Page 47 - link magazine

The Link Maaazine • Auaust 2003 47
MP commits to campaign for a fairer world
North Swindon MP Michael Wills surprised everybody in early July by resigning from the Government. Here he explains why, and how he will
be campaigning for fairer trade for the poorest people on the planet.
I came into politics to effect change
and for the past four years I have
been grateful for the opportunity
to do so as a minister, first at the DTI,
then at the Department for Educa-
tion and later at the Lord Chancel-
lor's Office and the Home Office.
But earlier this month I resigned
my ministerial role so that, while
continuing to support the Govern-
ment, I can find other ways of pur-
suing the range of issues that
brought me into public service.
Among other things, I intend to
pursue the cause of trade justice,
including reform of the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Trade justice means reforming lichacl lAJills, ccntre, joined Julia Drown MP t o pcak at a Trade Justice meeting in Swindon oit 2S June',
the global trading system that hob- in advance of Septemeber's World Trade Conference in Mexico
bles the efforts of the world's poor- sumers pay around 90bn Euros in this country and probably for some world's poorest people.
est people to climb out of poverty higher food costs and direct fund- others, it looks as if the French will I believe free trade holds the key,
and, for members of the EU, I be- ing of this policy, which adds £8 a continue to subsidise production, but we cannot preach trade liber-
lieve tackling the Common Agricul- week to the food bill of an average and so probably will other mem- alisation to poor countries while
tural Policy should be a priority. family of four. Even for the farm- ber states. Some crops, such as maintaining the barriers that lock
The CAP dumps subsidised ers it is supposed to support, be- sugar beet, were not even covered them out of our own markets.
goods on the poorest countries' cause payments have been linked in the negotiations, and there will My resignation gives me the
markets, undermining their abil- to production, 80% of the money be no reduction in the overall cost opportunity to link up with the
ity to trade their way out of pov- goes to 20% of the farms while the of the CAP. deep commitment and passion I
erty. Aid Agency Cafod estimates largest 2% of farms have received I recently took part in events in have seen amongst people in Swin-
that the CAP robs £35m a day in 24% of all direct payments. Swindon to mark Trade Justice Day don and mobilise wider popular
agricultural exports from the The latest attempts at reform at the Pilgrim Centre. Those in- opinion to support British minis-
world's poorest countries. have become bogged down in com- volved felt passionately that at a ters in driving through change so
The CAP does not even serve promise. And despite the best ef- time of unprecedented prosperity, that we can finally practise what
the interests of the great majority forts of British ministers and their more must be done to help the we preach and scrap the CAP.
of Europeans. It consumes half the success in breaking the link be-
EU's budget, while European con- tween subsidy and production in
SWINDON
Singing for support
FAMILY
o^EvangeJ.
CHURCH
^p 1 Worsley Road
SUNDAYS 10.30AM
woe
WINNER'S LOUNGE
SWINDON TOWN FC bui[ding with people
Come and join us
For details visit our website Sunday at I Oam & 6.30pm
at www.sfc-uk.org, For further information of
call Nigel on 526130 other meetings ring: 873050, call
Members of Freshbrook Church enjoyed hymns and traditional songs by a choir or e-mail: into the Church office or visit
made up of youngsters from orphanages run by the Human itas Pro Deo foundation [email protected] www.freshbrook.org
in Romania in early July. The children are on a tour of Britain raising awareness Jesus said: "l have come that YOU might
A Newfrontiers Chun h have LIFE and have it in its fulness"
of orphans in their country and money to support the foundation.

West Swindon & the

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St Mary's, Lydiard Tregoze
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Partnership Office on 874221
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