Light bulb ban is ‘attack on choice’ - MEP

Euro-MP Paul Nuttall

The imminent ban on manufacturing traditional 60 watt light bulbs is one more attack on people's freedom of choice, warned local MEP Paul Nuttall today.

A similar ban on 100 watt bulbs came into force two years ago and now the more widely used 60 watt version is about to be switched off.

"I hope that this will be a real 'light bulb moment' for people in this country, a realisation for those who have not already realised, just how much the EU increasingly dominates and controls our lives," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP Euro-MP for the North West.

"They have no regard for people's right to choose and absolutely no concern for the terrible impact this will have on those with light-sensitive health conditions.

"Time and time again we watch with despair as the EU churns out legislation with unintended consequences - and here we go again," he said.

Mr Nuttall added: "We are being bullied into this in the name of climate change but what about the mercury contained in the new energy saving bulbs. I have no doubt that the issue of their disposal has not been given proper consideration.

“If the bulbs break in the house various important precautions must be taken and even after this there will be a high level of mercury in the air, which is particularly dangerous for children.

“Once they end up in landfill the mercury can evaporate further, seep into the ground and contaminate water. The amount of mercury in one lamp is enough to contaminate 6,000 gallons of water. But even if they don’t break, they constitute a time bomb for future generations.”