I AM regularly bewildered and, more often, shocked, by the activities of UKIP representatives in the European Parliament.
They seem to be deliberately ignorant of the workings of the EU, they make only rare appearances in the parliamentary chamber and are hardly ever to be seen working in committee.
This behaviour neither fulfils their responsibilities and obligations to represent those who voted for them or do anything at all for their political objective of withdrawal from Europe, which can only be decided by the House of Commons.
UKIP claim that as their party's policy is to withdraw from the EU, this justifies their non-participation in EU affairs. Yet when they do get involved, as often as not they support measures which increase EU controls over crucial issues of national interest.
For example, the entire UKIP representation in the European Parliament, all three of them, recently voted in favour of abolishing the UK opt-out to the Working Time Directive. This directive, which enforces a maximum 48-hour working week and has been described by the British Chamber of Commerce 'as the single biggest financial burden on business to come from Europe', will seriously damage labour market flexibility in the UK.
By voting to remove the UK opt-out, the UKIP MEPs would deny their constituents the freedom to choose their working hours and prevent them from earning overtime pay.
Far from withdrawing Britain from Europe, UKIP appear to favour increased EU controls over our economy and the addition of billions to the costs of British business.
Giles Chichester
South West Conservative MEP