In or out? You decide! EU debate set to clue-up Bradford’s public

BREXIT: Amjad Bashir is in support of the UK leaving the EU and has organised the cross-party session

A free public consultation on whether Britain should stay in or leave the European Union (EU) will be staged in Bradford next week.

As build up to the referendum continues to gain momentum, the cross-party information event has been organised by Conservative MEP, Amjad Bashir, to give the public a clearer understanding of possible pros and cons of a ‘Brexit’.

The event will be hosted at the Carlisle Business Centre on Saturday 9^th April and will run from noon.

Guest speakers confirmed so far include: Conservative MEP for the South East of England, Dan Hannan, General Secretary of Labour Leave, Brendan Chilton, and Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood, Andrea Jenkyns.

Mr Bashir is backing the ‘Out’ bid, yet says he welcomes a ‘lively debate’ in Bradford for people to make up their own minds.

He said: “The question our country faces on 23rd June, whether the UK should remain or Leave the EU, is certainly the biggest question our country has had to face throughout my lifetime.

“As a result, I’m working hard across the region to encourage as many people as possible to get involved, and join the campaign.

“By hosting this public meeting, I believe it gives the people of Bradford a fantastic opportunity to ask their burning questions about how the EU affects their everyday life - from jobs, to its cost, to how its bureaucracy operates; I'm looking forward to what is set to be a lively debate.”

Last entry for the event will be at 12pm and a buffet lunch will be provided.

Those interested in attending should email amjad@amjadbashir.com to secure a place.

A ‘No’ to Mango

The European Union’s decision to ban the import of Indian Mangoes for 20 months has been criticised by the country who insist they have addressed any issue with previous shipments.

New Delhi have officially appealed the decision after being informed that shipments of premium Alphonso mangoes would be blocked from May, through to December 2015, after consignments infested with fruit flies were found in Brussels.

The UK currently imports a total of 56,205 tonnes of mangoes per year, of which 4,816 tonnes, 8.5per cent, come from India.

It may not be the biggest trade in the world, but for many people it is their livelihood and by stopping the trade it is likely to affect many stakeholders at production levels.

STOPPED: The EU will not import any more mangoes from India until December 2015 unless an appeal is approved

Ajay Sahai, director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), a body affiliated with the trade ministry, argued that the decision was a harsh one and believes it should be overturned.

“Since we got to know about the issue in March, we've put in place an elaborate examination and certification procedure that addresses the issue raised by the EU,” he said .

The FIEO and the trade ministry have asked Brussels to lift the ban, whilst local prices of mangoes have fallen by approximately 15 per cent in the past few days affecting farmers across the country, Sahai added.

The Middle East buys 80 percent of mango exports from India, the world's biggest producer of the fruit, accounting for about half of global output.

Asia, excluding India, accounts for more than a third of world mango output.