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| Group claims EU imperial victory | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| UK campaigners fighting EU plans to scrap imperial measures have claimed a victory for pounds and ounces. | UK campaigners fighting EU plans to scrap imperial measures have claimed a victory for pounds and ounces. |
| The Metric Martyrs campaign group and the Conservatives say a 2009 deadline for metric measures to replace imperial measures has been shelved. | The Metric Martyrs campaign group and the Conservatives say a 2009 deadline for metric measures to replace imperial measures has been shelved. |
| Tory industry spokesman, Giles Chichester, said he had EU confirmation that the marking of goods in metric and imperial could "continue indefinitely". | Tory industry spokesman, Giles Chichester, said he had EU confirmation that the marking of goods in metric and imperial could "continue indefinitely". |
| A spokesman for the Metric Martyrs group called it a "monumental victory". | A spokesman for the Metric Martyrs group called it a "monumental victory". |
| Tory MEP Mr Chichester said he had received the confirmation from the European Commission's Industry Commissioner Gunther Verheugen. | Tory MEP Mr Chichester said he had received the confirmation from the European Commission's Industry Commissioner Gunther Verheugen. |
| Mr Chichester said following lobbying by the Tories, the commissioner agreed it was good for British and European industry to keep imperial measurements as it would make it easier for firms to sell to the US. | Mr Chichester said following lobbying by the Tories, the commissioner agreed it was good for British and European industry to keep imperial measurements as it would make it easier for firms to sell to the US. |
| Mr Chichester said: "After saving the crown on the British pint, I am happy the Conservatives have persuaded the Commission that it is good not only for international business but for the British people that traditional measurements are kept. | Mr Chichester said: "After saving the crown on the British pint, I am happy the Conservatives have persuaded the Commission that it is good not only for international business but for the British people that traditional measurements are kept. |
| "I just hope there won't be any more need for Metric Martyrs and that the government will avoid forcing metrication down the public's throat." | "I just hope there won't be any more need for Metric Martyrs and that the government will avoid forcing metrication down the public's throat." |
| A spokeswoman for Mr Verheugen said during recent consultation, respondents successfully made the case to be allowed to use imperial measures alongside metric beyond 2009. | A spokeswoman for Mr Verheugen said during recent consultation, respondents successfully made the case to be allowed to use imperial measures alongside metric beyond 2009. |
| 'Indefinite extension' | 'Indefinite extension' |
| Commissioner Verheugen was expected to put the amendment forward to colleagues later this year, she added. | Commissioner Verheugen was expected to put the amendment forward to colleagues later this year, she added. |
| "His intention is to propose that in simple terms the use of supplementary indications would be granted an indefinite extension," she said. | "His intention is to propose that in simple terms the use of supplementary indications would be granted an indefinite extension," she said. |
| Metric Martyrs campaign director Neil Herron, a former fishmonger, said it was a "monumental victory" for the group and all its supporters. | |
| "It has been people power that has forced the European Commission and the government to abandon the enforced metrication programme," he said. | "It has been people power that has forced the European Commission and the government to abandon the enforced metrication programme," he said. |
| Mr Herron also called for a posthumous pardon for Steven Thoburn, a Sunderland greengrocer who was prosecuted for selling his produce by the pound. | Mr Herron also called for a posthumous pardon for Steven Thoburn, a Sunderland greengrocer who was prosecuted for selling his produce by the pound. |
| The Metric Martyrs campaign was set up to highlight the case of Mr Thoburn who died aged 39 in March 2004. | The Metric Martyrs campaign was set up to highlight the case of Mr Thoburn who died aged 39 in March 2004. |