More Trouble with the Bureaucrats
As readers may recall, and can look it up if necessary, I wrote to Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank in
The European Parliament's rules of procedure tell me that I should have done so via the chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee.
But I ignore this rule for one simple reason. Mrs Beres, the French chairman of the committee, has for years refused to pass them on.
After my January letter, which I copied to Mrs Beres as a courtesy, I received this starchy repost from one of her minions:
"I refer to your letter of 14 January 2009, which you have addressed to the President of the European Central Bank. We have been requested by the Chairwoman of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Ms Pervenche Berès, to respect the rules agreed by the European Parliament regarding letters from Members of the European Parliament to the European Central Bank. May we, therefore, kindly ask you to resubmit your letter in line with Article 111 of the EP Rules of Procedure. We will then be in a position to respond to your question in due time."
The clue about what would happen next is in the last phrase. Nothing!
This was not the first such message I have received over the years. Nor was my reply the first of its kind.
"As I have said repeatedly, Mrs Beres has chosen not to pass on my letters, so I have no choice but to write direct. I do not accept anyone's claimed right to censure my opinions, questions or letters. I must also remind you that, as an Englishman, I am free to speak my mind, to correspond with whomsoever I like, and no-one has any right to stand in my way. I do not have to ask anyone's permission. That is called free speech. Read your Voltaire. I shall continue to exercise free speech as I see fit, thank you. Ashley Mote"
We shall see what happens next - or not.
To respond to, or comment on this Email, please email ashley.mote@btconnect.com
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