South East MEP Sharon Bowles takes issue with BBC's negative EU slant

6.00.00pm GMT Tue 17th Nov 2009

Sharon speaks out

Sharon Bowles MEP has expressed her disappointment at a BBC programme that failed to posit a balanced view of the UK's relationship with the EU. Talking about BBC Radio 4's Analysis: Divorcing Europe programme, which aired this week, Sharon Bowles said:

"In this case, I am slightly shocked at the BBC's myopic view. I am disappointed, given the important role the UK plays in the EU, that the BBC chose to debate how best we can leave."

The programme, which featured a number of prominent Eurosceptic politicians, focused on the perceived benefits of leaving the EU.

Sharon Bowles said: "Yes, there is an argument to say the UK should leave the EU but there is also an argument that says we are better off in the EU. It would have been nice if both arguments had been properly heard."

Analysis: Divorcing Europe is featured on the politics page of the BBC News website. The programme includes a lengthy interview with Tory MEP, Dan Hannan, who has been very critical of the EU, and UKIP peer, Lord Pearson, who said the EU would be "glad to get rid of us."

Sharon Bowles said: "There are so many benefits to being a part of the EU - better regulation of the financial sector, climate change targets to stop global warming, tougher legislation on animal testing, a charter of fundamental human rights, and at a cost of £2 per week per person, we get access to 3.5 million jobs across the EU. In that context, I feel very sad that the BBC's programme chose to focus primarily on how we can leave all this behind."

Analysis: Divorcing Europe is repeated on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 22nd November at 9.30pm.