Interview with Richard Corbett MEP

Charlotte Gaughan: There have been huge economic benefits to Yorkshire resulting from structural fund, how far do you think people are aware of the benefits of the European Union and do you expect this to translate into increased votes?

Richard Corbett MEP: Part of the deal for creating a common European market was that less prosperous regions should be helped to catch up. Yorkshire therefore received a substantial amount of European regional funding and social spending especially in South Yorkshire. Even though Britain is not as good as some countries as advertising European spending (I am sure many people in York will not know that the new York University development is part-EU funded), it has made a huge difference in turning around the economic fortunes of large parts of Yorkshire. However, as most people don't realise this, I shouldn't imagine it will have a huge effect on voting intentions.

CG: How far do you think the current domestic situation (namely the financial crisis and the MP scandal) will sway voters away from Labour?

RC: All parties have been involved in the scandal of MPs' expenses and it is essential that they all take vigorous and visible action both to change the system and to deal with those members who have abused it. Labour has certainly begun to do so.

In any case, there remains a significant difference between the parties in terms of policies and what they do or would do in government or what they would do, in the case of these elections, with their seats in the European Parliament. I hope it will be possible to focus on these differences.

CG: Could you outline a few of your main policies, in particular any you think young people/students would be particularly interested in?

RC: It is vital that Britain engages constructively in the European Union. 3.5 million British jobs depend on our trade with the rest of Europe. The EU is also our neighbourhood committee where we and our fellow European countries come together to address common problems and trans-national issues such as the environment, fighting climate change, common consumer protection rules in the common market, trade (and therefore fair-trade) and so on.

It has its faults but it is, with its elected Parliament, a far more democratic structure than anything else that exists at international level.

As a Labour MEP in the Socialist Group in the European Parliament I want to make sure that the common market has common rules to make it fair: protecting consumers, respecting the environment, ensuring proper workplace rights to avoid social dumping and taking on powerful multi-national companies. I also think that there should be a greater emphasis on programmes that involve people, such as the student Erasmus exchange programme.

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