Councils need to oppose EU budget increase - MEP

Further increases to the European Union budget should be opposed.
That is the view of Conservative MEP Roger Helmer, who represents the East Midlands region including Northamptonshire.
Mr Helmer has urged colleagues in Northamptonshire County Council to oppose any increase in the EU budget.
The move comes after Medway Council in Kent adopted a resolution calling on the government to block the proposed increase.
Mr Helmer is concerned that at a time when Britain, and local authorities, are forced to tighten their belts and cut their spending, the EU demanded a six per cent budget increase, and eventually settled grudgingly for a nearly three per cent increase.
He said the EU has created the impression it lives on a different planet, unaffected by the financial squeeze that faces the rest of Europe.
"It is outrageous that we face yet further increases in the EU budget, when local councils are asked to cut back in these times of austerity," Mr Helmer said.
"Preventing a further increase in the EU budget would mean that fewer sacrifices would have to be made at central and local level here in Britain. We need to send a message to the EU that it must face up to the same financial constraints as everyone else."