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Plans for the British Navy to combine with French forces should be sunk without trace, said UKIP MEP Paul Nuttall today.

“I believe the move is a worrying step towards the creation of an EU defence force,” he explained.

“The plans, which are set to be discussed in France this week, demonstrate Britain’s need to disentangle its forces from the European Union and in turn keep command of its own defence.”

Defence Secretary Liam Fox is set to meet with French ministers on Friday to discuss the plans which could see the Royal Navy share the use of its aircraft carriers with France.

The move comes as the Gurkha regiment, which has been part of the British Army for almost 200 years, faces the axe under savage cuts to defence spending being considered by the coalition Government.

“These are certainly worrying times for our overstretched armed forces. The Gurkha regiment appears to be under threat and we are also heading towards combining the British and French navies,” said Mr Nuttall, North West Euro MP.

“This coalition Government is repeating the mistakes of previous Governments by starving our Armed Forces of the money it so desperately needs.

“We need a defence review headed by the chiefs of the armed services to establish what requirements we actually need and whether money is being spent wisely.

“The combination of navies is a clear indication of the drive towards the creation of an EU Defence Force which would be another hole in the hull of British sovereignty.

“This plan could jeopardise jobs in our British dockyards. We need a proper defence budget to properly sustain Britain’s defence commitments around the world.

“Our Armed Forces are facing a two-pronged attack from our own Government and the interfering EU,” he added.

Dear Editor,

I was dismayed to see that complaints about NHS care are at a record high but sadly not surprised.

I fear that the level of complaints will continue to rise. The whole nursing profession has changed from simple caring and dedication to university led theory and box ticking.

And thanks to the EU Working Time Directive hospital doctors do not get as much training as formerly and often follow patient care through.

GPs now do less hours for more money and many receptionists seem to exist only to protect the doctors from patients.

There are, of course, many many doctors who provide a fantastic service and nurses who really do want to nurse. But ‘trust me I’m a doctor’ sadly has a hollow ring these days.

Yours faithfully

Paul Nuttall, UK Independence Party, North West MEP

Dear Editor,

Euro MP Chris Davies is deluded as ever if he honestly believes anything British MEPs say or do will have any effect on EU decisions.

He criticises UKIP, and me in particular, for failing to attend European parliamentary sessions very often, saying, ‘you can’t stand up for Britain’s interests if you are not present when votes take place’.

You could attempt to stand up for Britain at each and every session but this bureaucratic monolith is on a mission to control all the member states and does not allow dissent.

When I stood for election I made it quite clear that I intended to attend plenary sessions on the absolute minimum of occasions and instead use the resources afforded to me by my MEP status to fight to get Britain out of the EU.

Interestingly the UK Independence Party came second in the European elections – beating Labour – so our views plainly touched a major chord with the electorate.

Chris Davies does not stand up for British interests. He is all in favour of the European Project and wants further and further integration and less and less British sovereignty. He is also happily collecting his 300 Euro daily allowance just for turning up.

Yours faithfully

Paul Nuttall, UK Independence Party, North West MEP

Dear Editor,

I was disgusted to hear of the early release of Francesca Raby, who was convicted of a vicious and brutal assault on Katie McNamara in 2008 (Bolton News – August 18).

Violent attackers such as Raby who use knives during a assault need to be given tougher sentences and locked up for its entire term for public protection, and also to restore much needed faith in our criminal prosecution service.

If we are running out of prison spaces to hold these criminals, then surely the solution must be to build more prisons. Isn’t it about time we started protecting the general public instead of the criminals?

Yours faithfully

Paul Nuttall, UK Independence Party, North West MEP

Honourable politicians are few and far between, but until today, one led the UK Independence Party.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch stepped down as our Party Leader today, and contrary to some of the rumours doing the rounds on the internet, it came as a shock to many of us. I was asked just the other day about the future of UKIP and I reiterated my belief that Lord Pearson’s ambitious proposals to professionalise and re-structure the party machine were imperative if we were to move up to the next level. Whoever wins this winter’s leadership election must be committed to such changes, for I firmly believe that our party has out-grown its current day structure.

Lord Pearson was also as honest as the day is long, some would say too honest, and he did not care much for the intricacies of the UKIP manifesto, as was shown by his interview on the Campaign Show. Lord P was a throw-back to a by-gone era, a cause man, not a party man, and it was refreshing. For him, getting out of the European Union meant everything and he didn’t care how we did it. Whether it was deals with Labour or the Conservatives, it did not matter if it took us a step closer to extricating ourselves from the ‘octopus’, as he describes it, that is Brussels.

Although UKIP lost its leader today, it hasn’t lost Lord P. He has given a commitment that he will continue to work “flat out” in the House of Lords as a UKIP peer and will continue to raise money for the party. There is also no doubt in my mind that the party’s loss is the causes’ gain and Lord P will campaign even harder for the referendum we so richly deserve, now that he is free from the shackles of party leadership.

As the Party Chairman, I will now have the unenviable task of overseeing a second leadership election in a year: a task I would not wish on my worst enemy.

A Euro MP has expressed horror that Trafford Council would use taxpayers’ money to pay for dating agency services for the disabled.

The shock news has emerged following a national newspaper investigation into a £520 million scheme introduced by the last Government.

This involves giving the elderly and disabled more control over the care they receive by passing on cash so they can choose the services they need, such as home help.

But the investigation has revealed that internet dating subscriptions, visits to prostitutes and lap dancing have been permitted under the scheme by some local authorities.

Trafford Council says personal budgets could be used for subscriptions to dating agencies, horse riding, buying a pet, adventure breaks or holidays.

“I have no problem with dating agencies but I do have a problem with the ratepayers in Trafford paying for such services for disabled residents,” said Paul Nuttall, Euro MP for the UK independence Party.

“It is not as if they do not already have basic financial benefits paid to them. Surely if they feel their sexual needs are not being met they should just pay for it out of their pocket, not have it specially allocated by the council.

“Some local authorities have actually coughed up cash for visits to prostitutes and lap dancing clubs which I find totally outrageous,” said Mr Nuttall, North West MEP.

“I have every sympathy with the disabled but this is just ridiculous,” he added.

The chairman of the UK Independence Party, Paul Nuttall MEP, has been in Up Holland, pounding the pavements along with the party’s candidate in the forthcoming council by-election.

Mr Nuttall, MEP for the North West, went over to help candidate Gary McNulty in his fight for a seat on West Lancashire District Council.

He accompanied Mr McNulty as he knocked on doors in Up Holland and chatted to local residents about their concerns.

‘We have an excellent local candidate who is working very hard in the ward,” said Mr Nuttall..

“We are also running a professional campaign and I am therefore confident that we will do extremely well in the election on September 2.”

Mr McNulty said, “I’ve been getting a fantastic response on the doorsteps as residents appreciate that UKIP is concerned about the every day issues that affect them.

“Residents who met Paul Nuttall were impressed that he had taken time out of his hectic schedule as party chairman to come to the ward as it demonstrates our commitment to the area.”

Financial questions marks have been raised about Sefton Council’s Transgender Volunteer Project.

Euro MP Paul Nuttall has expressed serious concerns about the scheme and has submitted a Freedom of Information request asking for details about it.

“We want to know much money Sefton Council has spent on this project and how much more is earmarked for it,” said Mr Nuttall, Sefton’s MEP for the UK Independence Party.

“It all sounds very touchy-feely and oh so politically correct but is there actually any demand or need for it? Just how many transgender people are there in Sefton and do they really need the council to get involved in their lives?

“It is described as apparently the first of its kind in the country but that does not necessarily mean it is a good use of ratepayers hard earned cash.

“Maybe it’s the first because other local authorities have thought better of squandering resources, especially at a time of budget cut backs,” said Mr Nuttall.

“So many non-jobs have been created under the banner of equality and diversity and these groups take more and more power to themselves and gobble up diminishing funds.

“I don’t think the majority of Sefton residents will think it a good use of resources and doubtless many will be shocked to even hear that such a project exists,” he added.