Taxpayers supporting bullfighting
Published Date:
07 August 2008
I WONDER if taxpayers in the Pontefract and Castleford area know that they are helping the EU to spend £30m a year to support Spanish bullfighting, a pastime that most civilised people detest.
Each fighting bull breeder receives an average of £185 per bull per year. Given that 40,000 bulls are killed every year, the total EU package to support bullfighting has amounted to more than £100m.
A significant proportion of the EU's agricultural support package to Spain is being siphoned off to support bullfighting and blood fiestas.
Another source of funds is the EU's rural development programme. Almost £600m is given to Spain to spend as it sees fit. This filters down to towns and villages where dignitaries can boost their popularity by renovating bullrings and lay on blood fiestas.
It is no coincidence that the current president of the EU is Mr Barroso, a Portugese supporter of bullfighting. When he was PM of Portugal he overturned the 76-year-old ban on death bullfighting.
The more I read about the EU the more I realise why new Labour reneged on its promise to hold a referendum on the constitution.
WILLIAM BEWLEY
Elm Close
Darrington
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Location:
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