Lightbulb moment

Another month, another EU ban - this time a further restriction on traditional light bulbs, warns local MEP Paul Nuttall.

From Saturday (1 September) the last phase of the European Union restriction on manufacturing incandescent bulbs, which have been used in the UK for more than a century, comes into force.

The Directive prevents retailers from purchasing 40W and 25W bulbs. The 100W, 75W and 60W tungsten filament bulbs, have already been banned.

"It is totally wrong that we are being told what to do by these unelected bureaucrats in Brussels," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP Euro-MP.

"We should have freedom of choice in how we live our lives in our country. But no, we are increasingly told what we can and, more often, cannot do.

" I am delighted to read, however, that the ever inventive and ingenious British have found a way of getting round the ban by using a loophole to buy industrial alternatives."

The Directive applies only to incandescent bulbs for household use but manufacturers are still allowed to produce similar products provided they are advertised as “rough-service” lamps for industrial use.

These are available from specialist lighting and hardware shops and from online retailers at a much lower cost than the cheapest energy-saving alternatives.

"People don't like the energy saving bulbs which are expensive to buy, cast a duller light and don't warm up as quickly," said Mr Nuttall.

"And we don't like being dictated to by the EU. We should be making our own choices not obeying orders from abroad," he added.