Solihull Ratepayers Association

Nikki Sinclaire MEP was the Keynote Speaker at Solihull Ratepayers Members Forum on Friday 12th March 2010 in Shirley. Ms. Sinclaire flew in from Strasbourg for her first public engagement since taking her stance as an Independent MEP to address Solihull Ratepayers Members Forum at the Shirley Centre last Friday afternoon.

Nikki told members of the Solihull Ratepayers’ Association that she will still
stand against Caroline Spelman in the forthcoming general election - At the SRA’s latest members’ forum at Shirley Centre last Friday she insisted she still had the support of local party activists despite her run ins with national leaders. And she pledged her immediate support to a campaign to see off a threat to the Meriden Gap from Coventry City Council’s housing building plans by promising to display a Save our Green Belt car sticker on her podium in the European Parliament next time
she was called to ask a question.

UKIP candidates have fought the last two general elections in Meriden, but failed to get anywhere near winning the seat which Mrs Spelman holds with a comfortable 7,000 majority. However, the shadow communities and local government secretary was caught up in the recent expenses scandal and was ordered to repay over £2,000 wrongly claimed in cleaning, utility and phone bills. Speaking after the meeting,association secretary Trevor Eames said: “This is the first time we have had an MEP to speak to us and we were all very impressed by Nikki, particularly her attention to detail and her local knowledge.

” Ms Sinclaire, who is from Shirley, added: “I was absolutely delighted to speak to the Solihull Ratepayers’ Association who do a sterling job in looking after the interests of the people of Solihull.

“I would encourage every politician to attend their local meetings because
connecting with local concerns, then addressing them either locally or on a parliamentary level is what politics is supposed to be about,I think far
too many established politicians have forgotten this.”

Ms Sinclaire has also hit out at claims in last week’s Observer by UKIP leader Lord Pearson that she was a trouble maker who did not get on with party members at a regional level. “I read with disbelief Lord Pearson’s comments.

His comments about my relationship with the party in the West Midlands are simply not true.”“In my 16 years of service to UKIP I have never been summoned before a disciplinary panel nor has any complaint ever been made against me.

” She added that she received the unanimous support of the local constituency association, County Committee and on Tuesday night (March 16) a vote of confidence was passed on me by the West Midlands Regional Committee six votes to one.

“It was also said they did not recognise Lord Pearson’s description of
me.” Ms Sinclaire called on Lord Pearson to apologise for his public comments,
reinstate her and allow her to help UKIP succeed in the forthcoming campaign.