The perversity of the European Union continues unabated and affects us all.

Our old friends the European Court of Justice have dealt a blow to the UK government's policy of applying a reduced rate of VAT for the supply and installation of energy-saving measures.

Following the European Commission's decision to take the UK to court (perverse in itself) over failure to comply with the EU VAT directive (perverse again) the court decided that the supply and installation of energy-saving materials in the housing sector did not fall into any of the categories in which a reduced VAT rate (currently five per cent) can apply.

The judgement (quite obviously perverse) means that VAT on energy-saving materials will have to be charged at the standard 20 per cent rate and without a doubt will have a serious affect on jobs in the bona-fide (that excludes windmills) energy sector.

This perverse decision is yet another epic example of Europe meddling in domestic policy for no trading benefit whatsoever. In fact, it is contrary to almost every principle and policy created to reduce consumers' energy consumption, cut emissions and help boost economic recovery across the EU.

I would welcome the Greens and other Euro lovers to comment on what is without a doubt perversity personified.

– Cllr Alan Preest (UKIP), Lydney.