Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)A EURO MP has slammed the visit of British minister Chris Bryant as insincere.
Marta Andreasen claims the visit to try and solve the huge demolition issue currently affecting hundreds of expats around the region didn’t amount to much.
She explained: “I don’t think he achieved very much. I don’t think his visit was very sincere.
“He’s not doing anything to resolve the problems of the people who are already suffering.”
Minister for Europe Bryant visited pensioners in Almeria and announced that Spanish civil servants will now work in the British Consuls in Malaga and Alicante.
At the time he stressed that finding a solution to the problem was out of the British Government’s remit.
“Obviously it’s not for us to tell the Spanish what to do, but whether it’s an amnesty or a change in the law, we are pushing for whatever solution is needed,” he added.
Bryant also met with demolition-threatened couple John, 82, and Muriel Burns, 70.
And John Burns explained that, although any direct prevention action is out of their jurisdiction, at least officials are now taking note.
“It meant a great deal that they came and spoke to us. It was only meant to be an hour but they were here for two,” he said.
All I can say is that John Burns must be easily pleased? Let’s face it, all Bryant has done is come and visited and told them face to face that the British Government don’t want to upset the Spanish Government and tell them to get their act together? I could understand it IF the Spanish lot were abiding by the letter of the law but they are so obviously NOT and it’s about time someone else – like Marte Andreasen is doing – from Downing Street or the House of Commons or Strasbourg told them so instead of pussy-footing around. After all it’s the like of these people that put them in office, although they very conveniently forget that! Instead of Bryant toadying-up to civil servants here and achieving nothing he should have threatened the sort of action Ms.Andreasen has and shown some sort of cross-party support with her but that would that be asking too much of him and Labour wouldn’t it?
Disagree with Paul entirely. Andreasen has let herself down by criticising the Bryant visit.
At a time when I have been urging all my MEP’s to support her she is playing the UKIP political card.
Sad to say there seems to be a constant Cyber war between different groups of affected individuals and now the politicians can’t show a united fron either.
Don’t just talk about it Andreasen, do it! And to succeed you will need politicians of every party and every country affected to stand with you…it’s not just the Brits.
Dave, I’m NOT a Marte Andreasen fan by any stretch, when I tried to get her to visit the area I live in and let our groups know exactly what she was doing and what was going on having given about 2 months notice for the visit,her office stopped accepting my e-mails? That said when we arranged a recent demo and march who were the ones who failed to turn-out, although we ensured they knew about what was happening? The Brits YET AGAIN!
Marta Andreason has given great hope to many citizens with her direct, outspoken manner. She rings true.
She knows the score, the games, the mentality and the political manoueverings both in Spain and the EU and is doing what is practical, within her power.
Let the Brits here be very grateful for her. This woman is not of the typical self-protecting ego-minding type.
In June she will be able to let Zapatero know in no uncertain terms how those Brits present (or absent) in Albox and in the Malaga March demonstration feel about Spanish indifference to their scandalous exploitation. I suspect she will not mince words, and relish that moment…
UK Minister for Europe flies in to help expatriates facing demolitions.
My understanding of Mr. Bryant´s recent visit to Spain, is that he assisted in setting up a system to help new potential buyers become ensnared in the “Spanish Property Scandal”, collaborating with the very authorities who are trampling over the human rights of European citizens residing and investing in Spain.
He is reported as saying, that helping the innocent victims was outside his jurisdiction.
At least Marta Andreason has voiced her support and we need all the support we can get.
It seems to me that ANY help and publicity is good help and publicity.
Exploiting that MP as a new communication channel to direct further letters of concerns and requests for help / support – and copying publicly everywhere, can only help build pressure on all parties for a positive outcome.
Now that this Bryant fellow is involved (good) don’t scare him off. Encourage him with thanks and press for his continued and more intense involvement.
Re: Graham Cole “ANY help and publicity is good”
Normally I would agree, however Mr. Bryant is listening and providing support to the perpetrators of the housing scandal. A solution for helping the corrupt authorities, developers, lawyers, bankers make even more money selling their surplus housing stock should not be on his agenda.
I believe the idea is to help, if possible the unfortunate victims, and solve the legal problems for the owners of approximately 250,000 homes all living under a cloud of uncertainty.
Know your friends well. Know your enemies even better….
“Know your friends well. Know your enemies even better”
Mr. Cole, you are absolutely correct.
We know many of our friends, they are doing their best to help and are much appreciated.
We have identified the enemy, let´s shoot them before they create more victims from the elderly expatriate community.