Nikki Sinclaire
| Nikki Sinclaire | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the European Parliament for West Midlands |
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In office 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Neena Gill |
| Succeeded by | Neena Gill |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
26 July 1968 London, England |
| Political party | We Demand a Referendum (2012–14) |
| Other political affiliations |
UK Independence Party (until 2010) |
| Alma mater | University of Kent |
| Website | http://www.simplynikki.org/ |
Nicole "Nikki" Sinclaire (born 26 July 1968) is a British politician and former leader of the We Demand a Referendum Party who served as a Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands from 2009 to 2014.
She was elected MEP in June 2009, as a UK Independence Party candidate but later resigned from the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group in which UKIP sat as a part in the European Parliament, citing the alleged extreme right-wing views of some of the group's members, including outspoken views condemning homosexuals and migrants. Subsequently Sinclaire sat as an Independent MEP from January 2010 until September 2012, during which time she set up the We Demand a Referendum party. She was defeated in the 2014 elections, saying in a statement on her website: "my employers have spoken, and it would seem I have been unsuccessful in my attempt to be re-elected as an MEP for the West Midlands region."
Although mainly known for her Eurosceptic views amongst which probably her greatest achievement was in forcing David Cameron as British Prime Minister to include an undertaking to hold an In/Out Referendum on British membership of the EU in the Conservative Manifesto. Sinclaire achieved this by instigating and leading a cross Party Petition to Government for a debate in the British House of Commons, on the continuing status of the British relationship with the EU. Under Sinclaire's leadership the Petition obtained the support of 1/4Million signatures, which were handed in to The Government in September 2011.
The resultant debate was held in October 2011 and led to David Cameron's first consequential Back Bench revolt prior to the General Election. Sinclaire has also campaigned on other issues affecting West Midlands people, from jobs and the environment to human rights. Sinclaire's position on the EU committee on human rights was also noteworthy with visits on behalf of Britain and the EU to Cyprus also Tunisia during the so called Arab Spring primarily. As a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme Sinclaire earned the honorary rank of Squadron Leader in the RAF, not only completing various RAF training courses and flight experiences but besides various official visits to RAF bases in the UK she made official visits to Cyprus and also to the active war zone of Afghanistan including Camp Bastion.
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