Candidates hit the streets ahead of European elections

Members of the European Parliament have been hitting the streets of Crow country ahead of the European Parliamentary Elections.

The elections take place on May 22, and will see voters in the East elect seven members of the parliament via proportional representation.

On Thursday, Stuart Agnew, MEP from the UK Independence party (UKIP), spoke to more than 70 members of the public at a meeting held at Royston Town Football Club. He explained why he believed the UK would be better off outside the European Union, citing Norway, Switzerland and Iceland as examples of countries who have prospered

Former Mayor of Royston Mark Hughes, who is also standing as a UKIP candidate in next month’s elections, also addressed the meeting.

He said: “When David Cameron talks about renegotiation he’s going to have difficulty. All 28 EU countries have to agree to any treaty change. All you need is one veto from any one of those countries and that’s why it simply won’t happen.”

Mr Hughes defected from the Conservatives to UKIP in December 2012, and stood in the Hertfordshire County Council elections last year.

However, though the pair discussed UKIP’s stance on agriculture and energy, they declined to reveal the party’s other policies to residents, stating that these would be published on the UKIP website in the run-up to next year’s general elections.

On Monday, Conservative MEP Vicky Ford visited Royston, taking a tour of the town with Royston Town Councillors and fellow Tory candidates Margaret Simons and Jonathan Collett.

She said “A lot of people are telling us that they want change in Europe and a referendum but that they also understand this is not a simple decision. It was good to hear their very positive support for a renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with the EU.”