Row involving aliens, ghosts and golliwogs means Northamptonshire MEP could revoke resignation amid replacement stand-off
NORTHAMPTON’S MEP has said he will revoke his resignation if the stand-off over his replacement is not resolved.
Conservative MEP Roger Helmer, who represents the entire East Midlands region, was due to stand down from his post in December.
But a storm has erupted between him and the Conservative party’s head office over his expected successor, Blisworth publisher Rupert Matthews, who has raised eyebrows amongst members because of his unconventional interests.
The Conservative Party is being accused of being reluctant to appoint Mr Matthews because of his paranormal expertise, which stretches to him offering online tutorials on the topic.
He also attracted controversy when he published a pamphlet on ‘Political Correctness’ which featured gollys on the cover.
In 2009 the Conservatives party won two MEP seats in the Euro elections, given to the first two on the candidate list, Mr Helmer and Emma McClarkin, while Mr Matthews was the unsuccessful runner-up.
By convention the next on the party list succeeds if any MEP dies or resigns. In this case that would be Mr Matthews.
Mr Helmer, who yesterday celebrated his 68th birthday, spoke to the Chronicle & Echo from Brussels. He said: “Rupert Matthews runs a small publishing business and publishes a wide range of titles, largely about history, a line in children’s books and a handful on the paranormal and some political issues. It is a business which makes money and he’s found a good market for books about the paranormal. The assumption that he’s therefore a nutter is absurd.
“I know him and I am confident in him but most importantly he has earned it; he has been voted into his position by voters and party members. I am unmoved about the nonsense over the paranormal.
“It’s a stand-off at the moment between me and the party’s central office; they won’t move until I move and I won’t move until they move.
“This is not because I want to dictate my successor, I want the party to respect the East Midlands party members and voters.
“I take my role seriously and I am prepared to do it until the end of the term in 2014 unless the party do the decent thing.”
But a spokesman for the Conservative Party’s central office said there is currently no vacancy to fill, and therefore could not confirm who would be a replacement.
He added: “We have to make a series of checks when there is a vacancy, if the next person on the list meets the criteria then they will be appointed.”
Mr Matthews refused to comment on the controversy, but said: “Roger Helmer has not yet resigned as a Conservative MEP for the East Midlands.
“The process of my replacing him will not begin until such time as he actually resigns.”
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Comments
There are 17 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
bobscrabby
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:51 AMwilli , OK but only if you pull the sledge .
willi eckaslyke
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10:15 AMBlizzy & Bob....It would be good for everyone if you were to meet on neutral ground and discuss your differences in a COOL manner ...Suggest Antarctica in June.
bobscrabby
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 03:35 PMblizzy again you avoided answering the points that seem to embarrass you , so you make inane comments .
blizzy boy
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 09:03 AMI thinking Lady Muck about starting a Childrens TV show called the 'BLIZZY AND BOBBY show ' hi kiddies i'm blizzy and this is mr grumpy Bobby isn't he funny children Mmmmm i think it could catch on.but you mustn't call him MR bobby or he will be very angry kiddies.
lady muck
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 07:56 AMblizzy & Bob...boys, boys....kiss and make up. This is an opportunity for a good goliwog row, not a time for inter-continental name-calling.
blizzy boy
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 06:10 AMMay i suggest JUST BOBSCRABBY that you switch websites maybe to the Angling times where your usual load of CODSwallop will be more acceptable yes i believe that Northampton has become a CESSPIT along with many other major towns and cities throughout England.In the 50s-60s would you have taken your puppies say, for a walk in Abington Park after dark 'YES' would you do it today 'NO' Do you feel 100% safe in your own home NO..I would hardly call my comments MEDDLING!!! Ii'm airing my personal opinion 'WHICH IS MY RIGHT'.most people on this site know i'm living abroad and respond to my comments either agreeing or disagreeing without the childish ABUSE which you only seem capable of .If ever in the neardistant future you decide to make any sort of construtive comment to a story i will respond to it's content NOT the commentator.MAY I SUGGEST YOU DO THE SAME!!!!!!
bobscrabby
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 07:34 PMblizzy as you say , footnote , was your comment not rather ageist and rude ?. ..............................................................................................PS my name is not Mr Bobscrabby , my comment name is just bobscrabby .
bobscrabby
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 06:28 PMMy comment is only to draw to the attention of others that you are not at least concerned about what happens in ("A Cesspit") Northampton , you should concern yourself with Kuala Lumpur , I know it was nothing to do with the article , how clever of you to spot it , I didn't seet anything offensive in my comment , as for the chip on my shoulder is that, you are meddling in affairs of no concern to you .I have not knocked , as you say , the British people who have emigrated they appear to not try to interfere with their past , by the way your remarks about the article were not very nice .
blizzy boy
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 04:53 PMAND AS A FOOTNOTE MR BOBSCRABBY: Check out the statistics for the past 10 years of British people who have opted to immigrate to other countries i think you will be surprised.also the number of people who have said if they had the chance to start a new life abroad would do-so. As iv'e told you before if your happy with your life in England so-be-it but DONT knock other people for wanting to better their lives and broaden there horizons.As you dont believe in the Paranormal YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!!!!!!!!!!
blizzy boy
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 04:35 PMMore MANURE from the MATURE?????? 75 YEAR OLD BOBSCRABBY i must add tedious to the list along with boring, repetitive, offensive misguided and downright rude. I also note yet again Mr Bobscrabby has failed to make any valid point in connection with the article. Lastly i would hardly call Mr Singhs response to my comment 'INCURRING HIS ANGER' he responed in a polite manner and his comment was quite plausible. therefore Mr BOBSCRABBY YOU NEED TO GET THAT CHIP OF YOUR SHOULDER about me living abroad and start actiing your age all 75 years of them
Tony Clarke
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 04:23 PMAnd the difference between an Alien and an East Midlands MEP is? You guessed it, you have far more chance of spotting an Alien in the County than you ever do an MEP
lady muck
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 04:17 PMblizzyboy...Finding a virgin in Northampton....now that would be magic.
bobscrabby
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 03:42 PMComment 3 is another from blizzy boy , who refers to Northampton as a " A CESSPIT" ,. blizzy why do believe you have any right to comment on happenings in the town and country you deserted so you could live in Kuala Lumpur , you incurred the anger of Mr . Gurcharan Singh with you comment about the Temple in the old Cosworth property , he said the Malaysian Government should remove you from their country , as I said before , I hope you stay there I would not like you to return .
willi eckaslyke
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 03:19 PMSurely, expertise in the paranormal and political correctness would be beneficial to someone representing this area.
blizzy boy
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 01:14 PMI read this story with utter disbelief.So Mr Mathews would be appointed then if he had a conventional interest such as stamp collecting, or model making etc.Do these Conservative party idiots think Mr Mathews dabbles in the black arts maybe sacrifice the odd virgin at the weekend. People from all walks of life take an interest in the Paranormal in fact Paranormal research groups boasts Lawyers, Teachers, the Clergy, and scientists amongst it's members.And as for the 'Golly' i suppose because iv'e still got my Robertson's Golly badge from the 60s that makes me a racist.Personally Mr Mathews the Conservative party are simply looking for an excuse not to appoint you. I just hope Mathew Hopkins [the witchfinder General ] doesn't get wind of your Satanic activities
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