Originally Posted by UKIP Press Office

For Immediate Release –12:00hrs 6th June 2005

Cormack denies being ‘Europhile of first order’ despite support for Euro

Sir Patrick Cormack, the Conservative candidate in the Staffordshire South election, has been accused of being caught red-handed trying to carry out a massive U turn on his pro-European record.

Malcolm Hurst, the UK Independence party candidate, said Sir Patrick either had ‘appalling lapses of memory about speeches he had made in Parliament or he was simply trying to mislead the electorate about his strongly pro-EU views.’

Sir Patrick wrote to Roger Knapman, the UKIP leader, and said “Whatever else I may be I am certainly not a Europhile of the first order. I have never for instance supported our entry INTO phpbb_the single currency. I am totally opposed to our signing the European Constitution.”

Sir Patrick repeats these claims in his latest election leaflet.

Mr Hurst today pointed out that the record simply did not back up what his Tory rival was claiming. He said, ”According to Hansard, Sir Patrick has performed an outrageous U turn.

“In one speech he said: “I wholly and completely support the Government’s line on the single currency and I do so unashamedly and without reservation. It would have been sensible to work first with a common currency before moving to a single currency”

“For him to turn round now and say he has never supported the single currency is appalling and a direct insult to the electorate.”

Mr Hurst then ridiculed Sir Patrick’s claims not to be strongly pro-European.

“Again the record does not lie” he said, “In 1996 in Hansard Sir Patrick said, amongst other pro-European Union statements. “I was proud and am proud to belong to a party that took our nation INTO phpbb_the European Community. I am British but my continent, my culture and my civilization are European.”

In the same speech he says ”If we do not form part of a wider, cohesive and coherent Europe we shall be selling the pass for future generations. We have to be a part and a constructive part, of our continent”.

Mr Hurst said, ” Again Sir Patrick is condemned from his own mouth. How can he say these things and then pretend he hasn’t?

Sir Patrick says he wants a clean contest. So do we. He claims he has been misrepresented. That is nonsense. Sir Patrick is misrepresenting himself in a bid to win votes. He knows that the tide of public opinion has turned against the European Union and he is trying to turn with it. But the voters will not be fooled even if Sir Patrick is trying to fool himself .” said Mr Hurst.

Notes to Editors:

For further information, please contact:

Malcolm Hurst, UKIP Candidate, South Staffordshire,
Clive Page, UKIP Press Officer, 07788-813915
UKIP South Staffs campaign office 01902-843851

Originally Posted by scotgirl

to be honest UKIP should be stating thier own poliices rather than having a go at one of the other people standing, i dont like negitive campaining at all no matter who is doing it

Originally Posted by scotgirl

to be honest UKIP should be stating thier own poliices rather than having a go at one of the other people standing, i dont like negitive campaining at all no matter who is doing it

Originally Posted by scotgirl

some of you might want to read what i type instead of being hypnotised by the avitar

Originally Posted by scotgirl

to be honest UKIP should be stating thier own poliices rather than having a go at one of the other people standing, i dont like negitive campaining at all no matter who is doing it