That was one of the headlines we saw recently in local press.   You may be wondering what it's all about, well, let me tell you.

 Euro-MP Roger Barton, from Sheffield, was congratulated by the Campaign for Real Ale members for helping them defeat a European Commission's request to change the UK's Guest Beer Law.

The Law allows pubs tied to major breweries to serve a "guest" beer from a different brewery, but the Commission wanted to change the law to include European beers.

This, of course, upset the members of CAMRA, who feared being overrun by foreign beers.

 But, once Sheffield MEP Barton got on board, the Commission backed down.

A South Yorkshire CAMRA organiser commented on Mr. Barton's involvement, "I'm sure the strong way he took up the cause was crucial in forcing the EC turnaround and we certainly owe a lot of our achievements to him."

Open Letter To MEP Barton

 Congratulations to you Roger, our Euro M.P. for Sheffield, in your successful bid to allow guest ales in pubs.   What a splendid achievement.

 How much more appreciated it would have been had you put the same enthusiasm into getting full disregard for our own city's War Disabled Pensioners, whose numbers get even less each day, not weeks or months.

When we wrote to you in February '96, you promised to keep in touch, and in your reply you stated a Disability Pension, which was paid to enhance the life of the recipient, should not be included as income, but a War Disability Pension, given for the same reason, should.

Surely the key word here, for those who may have missed it, is "Disability", not whether it is derived out of War or Civil nature.

Do you realise Britain is bottom of the league in European and World recognition of it's War Disabled Pensioners.   Sheffield has had the benefit of subsidy from the ex-servicemen and women, because that in effect is what it is.   Their only crime is in living long enough to retirement age and beyond.

Something must be terribly wrong in council administration when the city of Sheffield loses millions of pounds and allows it's staff involved in devious deals to still keep their jobs when they are discovered.

The extra £10 to the statuary £10 does not help the disabled pensioner on a higher percentage than 10 because of their graver injuries.

So, give thought to them, MEP Barton, and fight for their rights in a European Parliament.  It is much more worthy a cause than guest ales in pubs.

Do you not agree?