Debunking the myths

Date: 06/02/1997

Relations between the European Commission's London office and the legendary French-but-British MEP Sir James Goldsmith are positively glacial after his Referendum Party poster campaign complaining about the burden of 100 new rules and regulations imposed on the UK every week.

Geoff Martin, head of the London office, who is on a long-term myth-hunting mission, immediately wrote to Goldsmith asking for a precise list of the 100 directives and suchlike handed down by 'Brussels'. Letters flew between the two, with Goldsmith warning Martin to moderate his behaviour or else.

The Referendum Party leader did supply broad figures outlining the total number of directives et al that the Commission had brought forward over the last decade or so, but when Martin wrote back again demanding specifics of the latest batch of 100 rules a week later, Goldsmith said he had no intention of answering questions from an EU civil servant and accused Martin of exceeding his mandate.

The exchange came to an end when Goldsmith wrote stating that he did not wish to continue the debate. This last letter was faxed to Martin in Brussels last week - just as he was on his feet at a drinks do, firing a broadside at British pre-election hysteria over Europe.