Wolverhampton Liberal Democrats

Building a Better Wolverhampton

Euro vote to end tobacco subsidy

5.45.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 8th Oct 2005

smoker

Smoking is associated with several terminal illnesses

The European Parliament Budget Committee has voted to scrap over £500m in subsidies to European tobacco farmers, the money saved earmarked for improving anti-smoking campaigns.

Wolverhampton's Lib Dem member of the European Parliament, Liz Lynne MEP, has repeatedly spoken out against smoking in public places and the subsidies that support the industry.

She said, "This is an excellent step forward. I think tobacco farmers must act to switch their production from tobacco and this will be a helpful means of pushing them in the right direction.

"Axing the tobacco subsidy is a good start, and a necessary one.

"Tobacco farms are often found to use heavy use fertilisers, which can seriously damage the land and surrounding environment. The sooner we can make the switch to more environmentally friendly crops, the better for us all."

Bookmark this story at: del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg FacebookFacebook LibDigLibDig redditreddit StumbleUponStumbleUpon
Print this news story.
Comment on this news story.
Previous news story: Lib Dems in clear over donation (Sat 8th Oct 2005).
Next news story: Graffiti clean up - Liberal Democrats in action! (Mon 10th Oct 2005).

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY.
Published and promoted by Bryan Lewis on behalf of Liberal Democrat Candidates, all at 3 Merridale Crescent, Wolverhampton, WV3 9QY.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.