Euro MP Roger Helmer forced to move out of Market Harborough office

“Helmer has no defence and no argument. He knows full well what the Innovation Centre was built and what it's intentions are. He has failed the test to be housed there and should never have moved there in the first place.

Well done to Cllr. Galton for exposing this anomaly and "engineering" his removal.

Whether this centre will be a success or not remains to be seen but the slow take-up is no reason why this building's objectives should be abused. Presumably the Planning Department at Harborough were swayed sufficiently that it was a good idea when passing the original plans!!”

“caz2639 - You keep bleeting on about how good the Innovation Centre is, I haven't heard anybody say anything to the contrary? Lets accept we all agree on that one point and you can put it to bed.

Congratulations on asking questions, albeit clearly not the right ones. For somebody who doesn't want to be involved in politics of any shade, you seem to have particularly strong views on certain Politicians. Some would think that a tad hypocritical.

As for your argument that lots of people care about an office location, based on the apparent deluge of comments left on sites such as this... really? I've seen a couple i'll grant you but I'd hardly say that you and the five other people who have chosen to comment on it really reflect the views of the entire town. I'm more than happy to accept my views are just that MY views. Making yourself the mouthpiece for everybody else based on your own, obvious political prejudices seems a little inappropriate.”

“Do not worry Roger, there will be no need of LibDem Offices soon because this Government may not be in "any kind of office" SOON if this Government does not start Governing this Country according to its very long standing, but ignored, Constitution. The people cannot according to their Constitution pay foreigners to Govern this Country by making Rules, Directives and Regulations for the British Governments and people to follow. The people have had enough of paying British Politicians that have to obey the same foreign EU Orders like the rest of us are supposed to do-but will not do for much longer.

We are not going to remain quiet either, while monies are removed from the British people just to give billions and millions of British pounds to foeigners to get out of the "jam" they have found themselves in and which was of their own making.

No need of a referendum-we wouldn't trust any UK referendum on the EU any more anyway. Just take this United Kingdom -which is United on this matter-out of the EU. Repeal the European Communities Act 1972 which prevents any more EU DicTacs going through and then repudiate all EU Treaties via the Vienna Convention on the Laws of Treaties. SIMPLES!”

“Do not worry Roger, there will be no need of LibDem Offices soon because this Government may not be in "any kind of office" SOON if this Government does not start Governing this Country according to its very long standing, but ignored, Constitution. The people cannot according to their Constitution pay foreigners to Govern this Country by making Rules, Directives and Regulations for the British Governments and people to follow. The people have had enough of paying British Politicians that have to obey the same foreign EU Orders like the rest of us are supposed to do-but will not do for much longer.

We are not going to remain quiet either, while monies are removed from the British people just to give billions and millions of British pounds to foreigners to get out of the "jam" they have found themselves in and which was of their own making.

No need of a referendum-we wouldn't trust any UK referendum on the EU any more anyway. Just take this United Kingdom -which is United on this matter-out of the EU. Repeal the European Communities Act 1972 which prevents any more EU DicTacs going through and then repudiate all EU Treaties via the Vienna Convention on the Laws of Treaties. SIMPLES!”

“@HarbyTrawler - to address your points:
- I ask a lot of questions from people who know the answers, rather than just believing what I read in the press
- It's pointless having Roger Helmer's rental income if his occupancy of the centre puts other people off from using it and thus reduces the overall income - he certainly caused a large number of negative comments when he published his blog about moving in. And it's not guaranteed for 2 years - the whole point to the centre is that the tenancy agreements are flexible and don't tie anyone in to long contracts
- As I previously said, the centre is ahead of business plan in terms of occupancy for the current stage of its life - that information is in the public domain and, as such, the centre is successful
- Clearly lots of Harborough people do care about who has an office where, as evidenced by all the comments on social media, and the only political stunt being pulled here is by Roger Helmer
- Again, to repeat what I said earlier, I care enough about the Innovation Centre to believe it is a fantastic asset for the people of Harborough District, I know a lot of hard work and negotiation went in to getting the grants and money to fund it and I have no doubt that, even given the current economic climate, it will be occupied on plan. Occupied with the kind of businesses that should be using it, businesses that will create jobs and help to grow the local economy. Personally, I don't want it involved in politics of any shade, and that includes any politicians who need offices.
- My contribution? Helping to spread the word about the centre and how great it is, to encourage people to use it.”

“No, the building is subject to a specific grant which is legally binding on the operators. Failure to stick to the grant conditions means goodbye grant. Also, whatever the tenancy criteria, they are not set by the council whilst the subsidy is in place. They are dictated by the EU, so something else for you to moan about.

Mr Hemer should not have gone there in the first place and if he'd read his tenancy agreement and the conditions of the tenancy he would have known this.

Makes you wonder how much of the stuff he's paid to read actually gets opened.”

“Breaking Laws? Behave!

Whilst a tenancy contract might be legally binding, the criteria on which the centre decide to offer a contract would be entirely discretionary and susceptible to change based on what the council instructed them to do!

As for it still being subsidised, I'm more than happy to see the tax payers of France, Germany, Spain and the few Greeks who actually pay tax, helping to pick up the bill.

Regardless of whether Mr Helmer is looking to bring about the end of the EU (an idea which certainly has merit,) I think it is absolutely right that he should use what European funding he gets to support local projects like Harborough Innovation. At least when he was paying that money to Harborough District Council, it was coming back into our local Government system to use on things that local people actually care about?”

“Just a second...if taxpayers are subsidising an empty office to the tune of £17k and Mr Hemer has moved in they are still subsidising it...

Ultimately he admits he's not a startup business - so his presence there is unlawful because it breaks the legal terms of the tenancy. So obviously he's ok about breaking laws then?

And of course he's a proven hypocrite. Happy to take a salary and subsidy from a body he admits he wants to tear down.

Great choice as an MEP, eh?”

“Hang on shouldn't all "our" representative be housed in the same "bog" standard government provided accomadation, possible simular to the flats they provide for those with insufficent income to buy. The might at least then have some idea of how their subjects live (Oh, sorry we are supposed to be those they represent I somehow forgot that perhaps because of their general behavour).”

“caz2639 - You seem to know an awful lot about the details of this situation, clearly you've been involved in it somehow? Could you let us know what that involvement was because I've got some questions I'd just love to know the answers to?

Firstly...Irrespective of how "Successful" you consider the Innovation Centre to be (and I note in the article, Mr Helmer remarked more than once about how impressed he was with it,) is it not true that the centre has been more than half empty since it opened? Regardless of business plans, do you not think somebody paying to rent an office is a better option than Harborough Tax Payers subsidising 17k? Do you not think (As I'd wished Cllr Galton had) that Harborough could use that 17k more wisely considering that it was a guaranteed income for the next two years?

Secondly... Do you not think that Tenancy Agreements for a Council funded building should be flexible enough to react to a downturn in our economy? I would actually be IMPRESSED if the management company, put in charge of getting the best return for local tax payers, sought to widen their criteria, based on how few businesses were obviously applying for offices?

Thirdly... People are tired of politicians who blatantly disregard COMMON SENSE! The vast majority of people in Market Harborough couldn't care less who has an office where. They do care about their money being wasted on political stunts, which this clearly is!

If you care that much about where Mr Helmer keeps his office, If you think it's an issue which is worth a price tag of £17,000, then maybe you should club together with people who share your view, chip in and cover the shortfall for the rest of us.

Cllr Galton, what will your contribution be?”