Opposition to anti-counterfeiting agreement

An international anti-counterfeiting agreement which would weaken fundamental liberties and freedom of expression has been opposed by local UKIP MEP Paul Nuttall in Strasbourg.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) came before the European Parliament  and along with his Party colleagues Mr Nuttall voted against it.

"Genuine copyright and intellectual property rights must be protected, but the EU is building up its own police state," he explained later.

"UKIP are in favour of internet freedom and against the criminalisation of offences under ACTA. Criminalisation opens up all types of sinister possibilities to prevent free speech, dissent and alternative points of view."

Rejection of ACTA has already been recommended by the EU's International Trade Committee.

Mr Nuttall explained that developing countries and many international humanitarian organisations are concerned about the impact of ACTA on generic life saving drugs in the developing world.

And civil liberties groups insist that ACTA will weaken fundamental liberties and freedom of expression.

"ACTA is bad news for internet freedom and UKIP were very happy to vote against this harmful body of law," he said.

"The three Establishment parties in the UK are guilty of rank hypocrisy over ACTA because they allowed this treaty to pass through Westminster committees in 2011.

"They said it had no political or legal importance, which was false. It was only when the media spotlight turned on ACTA that they changed their tune.

The European Commission today said it would wait for the European Court of Justice judgement on the matter and return with new proposals in the future.