Ghost hunter and UFO expert could be heading to European Parliament in 2012

Rupert Matthews could become a member of European Parliament, unless his appointment is blocked by his own party.

Source: Dateline Zero

An expert in UFOs and paranormal activity based in Blisworth [map] could be representing Northants in the European Parliament from the beginning 2012.

Rupert Matthews, aged 50, is preparing to replace outspoken climate change skeptic Roger Helmer as the Conservative MEP for the East Midlands.

Matthews has written over 200 books on history, ghosts, cryptozoology, UFOs, paranormal activity, guides to the UK and children’s stories. Matthews also runs an online course about the paranormal on behalf of the International Metaphysical University.

However, his appointment to the European Union is being questioned. He was set to take over the seat on December 31; but that could be delayed. Or, it might not happen at all.

One area of concern for some is Matthews’s apparent lack of faith in the Union. He’s has been described as “a skeptic over the EU, but on precious little else.”

However, a lack of faith in the EU doesn’t seem to bother Matthew’s Conservative Party. Indeed, this is why he’s a great pick for the seat: Buckingham Today has reported that Matthews vowed to continue Helmer’s battle against increasing European federalism.

What’s giving Matthews’s own party pause is an offensive book that was published by Bretwalda Books, of which Matthews is an editorial director. BBC News reports on an inquiry into a book that featured “golliwog dolls” on the front cover.

These dolls , based on a character in children’s books in the late 19th century, are considered racist and patently offensive. Some members of the Conservative Party are worried that if Matthews is connected with a book that featured the dolls on the front cover, it might become politically embarrassing for them all.

Matthews said he had not been told anything about the investigation, and further elaborated to the BBC that he was entirely unaware he was being investigated by his own party.

Matthews explained that, although he held shares in Bretwalda Books, he had not been involved with the publication of the book in question, titled: ‘Britain – a Post-Political Correctness Study,’ by Bill Etheridge.

“I was aware that one of the Labour party websites had run some sort of story on it but I didn’t take it seriously because I didn’t deal with that book,” Matthews said.

Rupert Matthews’s books include Roswell: Uncovering the secrets of Area 51 and the fatal UFO crash, UFOs: A History of Alien Activity from Sightings to Abductions to Global Threat, Unexplained Ghosts and Spirits, and Sasquatch. He’s also authored many historical titles, including How the Steam Railways came to Surrey.

MORE: Full post at Dateline Zero