Letter to The Editor, East Anglian Daily Times:

Dear Sir

I would like to commend Zoe and Shane Murphy for reopening their second pub in Suffolk in the last three months. (EADT 15 October). This is an incredible achievement, especially during this economic downturn and at a time when The British Beer and Pub Association reports that a record 52 pubs are closing every week in Britain leading to the loss of 24,000 jobs in the past year.

As chairman of the British Beer Club in the European Parliament, I not only want to promote the best of British beer, but recognise the added value our pubs bring to our communities which are fast losing all their amenities.

Socialising over a pint in the local pub is a British tradition that we should endeavour to maintain, particularly in rural areas which may have already lost its post office and has poor transport links to neighbouring towns.

I look forward to dropping by and sharing a pint with them both.

Yours faithfully

Robert Sturdy MEP

“Thank you for your letter of 30 September regarding the current situation with the proposed A14 improvement scheme between Ellington and Fen Ditton.

“I am extremely disappointed to learn of the delay in the upgrade to this route which means that works will not be completed until 2016.  We have been promised improvements to this route for too long now and it is totally unacceptable that the people of Cambridgeshire, and indeed, all those other motorists who use the road, should have to wait even longer.

“You say in your letter that you realise this news is disappointing and that you will ensure the Highways Agency will meet this new timetable but it is very difficult to accept yet another promise on delivery of this scheme, when you have previously given promises which have been broken.”

Some people will be aware that David Cameron has withdrawn the Conservatives from the EPP-ED and led the formation of a new group, the European Conservatives and Reformists, a move that has generated significant misinformation in the press.

Contrary to many reports I am proud to say that we will not be sitting with  extremists, but instead we have joined with many mainstream parties from other member states who share our view that the EU should not continue down the path towards ever greater federal union but rather should respect the right of sovereign nations and their citizens. The EU must become more open, democratic and accountable, this is the mandate upon which I was elected, and this is the platform which I shall follow.

Of course, the Conservatives will carry on maintaining good ties with our former colleagues, continuing to work together in areas of mutual interest, but the new group will allow me to concentrate on our region’s economic recovery, improving growth and competitiveness, reducing red tape and making sure that the EU represents value for money for Cambridgeshire’s tax payers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who journeyed to the polls to vote on the 4th of June. It has always been a great honour to serve the people of Cambridgeshire and I was delighted to be lucky enough to be asked to return to Brussels and Strasbourg by the electorate of the Eastern Region. I look forward to working  for  the people of Cambridgeshire for whom I was directly elected under the old constituency system in 1994 and for whom I shall continue to directly represent for the next five years.