Jane Collins MEP |
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UKIP Home Affairs and Justice Spokesperson | |
Assumed office 2 December 2016 |
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Leader | Paul Nuttall |
Preceded by | Diane James |
UKIP Employment Spokesperson | |
In office 24 July 2014 – 2 December 2016 |
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Leader | Nigel Farage |
Preceded by | position established |
Succeeded by | Andrew Charalambous |
Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber |
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Assumed office 1 July 2014 |
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Preceded by | Godfrey Bloom |
Personal details | |
Born |
Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
17 February 1962
Political party | UK Independence Party |
Jane Maria Collins (born 17 February 1962) is a British politician, Member of the European Parliament for the Yorkshire and the Humber region for the UK Independence Party. She was elected in 2014.
Collins was educated in West Yorkshire, attending East Hardwick Junior School and Pontefract and District Girls High School leaving at 18 with 4 GCE O-levels and a GCE A-level in Art.
On leaving school Collins was appointed Head Girl at a racehorse training establishment in Moss, South Yorkshire. In 1985 her family moved to Selby and eventually bought a stable at Willitoft which she helped run. An equine physiotherapist, she met Katie Bloom with whom she formed a partnership in 1995. Katie Bloom is married to former UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom, and Collins became interested in the party.
Interviewed by the Observer ahead of the September 2014 UKIP conference and therefore unable to discuss their new policies, Collins described herself as a "progressive libertarian." Referring to Godfrey Bloom's comments on international aid (made in his "Bongo-Bongo land" speech), she said that they were valid but badly expressed. She was concerned about "a developing health problem" in Sheffield in relation to the Roma community of Slovak origin. She claimed they have a higher incidence of hepatitis B – the subject of a planned vaccination program – which would put a greater strain on the health service. She has called for those "indigenous" children who are in close contact with the Roma to be vaccinated as well.
In conclusion, journalist Daniel Boffey, said Collins would continue Bloom's tradition of stirring controversy.
Collins stood for UKIP in the March 2011 Barnsley Central by-election triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Eric Illsley over the UK parliamentary expenses scandal. She came second to Labour's Dan Jarvis, winning 12% of the vote.