Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands constituency since 1999. He is a member of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament. Labour spokesperson on human rights, Vice-Chairman Committee on Petitions, member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and a substitute on the Subcommittee on Human Rights. Privacy International shortlisted Michael Cashman MEP in 2002, for his opposition in the European Parliament to controls over email spam, for consideration as worst public servant.

Issues

Sound Copyright

Constituent User:Avantman42 wrote to him in October 2008 to ask him to oppose the proposed term extension on sound recordings. Ignoring the points raised, he replied three months later with a short e-mail:

Thank you for your email regarding the extension of copyright.

As an ex-artist, I do not agree with your negative assessment of the implications of extending the copyright period. No one could walk in to a butcher's shop and ask for the products for free, and the same principle should be applied to the work of artists.

Therefore, I will be voting in favour of extending the copyright period.

A follow-up e-mail, specifically asking him to respond to the points originally raised, got a similar response.

Data Retention

Pro Data Retention

Speech to the European Parliament

Madam President, this is a very difficult debate because, interestingly, groups that are normally homogeneous are split; political allies who normally work with one another are split. I have absolute respect for those who have their reservations about that which is being proposed. I ask that they have respect for those of us who believe that this is a way of protecting fundamental freedoms. It is important to restate that this is not about the data within the calls or on the internet; it is about traffic data, and it is arguably to allow us to protect fundamental freedoms.

Of course, there are costs; there are costs to businesses, there are costs to each and every one of us, but the cost if we do nothing is cataclysmic. We have to deal with the real and imagined threats. There are people who use the Internet to entrap young women and children into prostitution rings. If we can break one prostitution ring with this directive, that alone would have been worth it. I and my group are proud that we have achieved a compromise that delivers and protects fundamental freedoms.

Biometric passport

Speech on EU citizens’ passports 1 December 2004

... I would like to welcome Mr Coelho’s report – it is an excellent piece of work. On behalf of my Group, however, I have to state that we are not happy that there has not been time for Parliament to be re-consulted on the new proposals from the Council. We have concerns – although thankfully some of them have been met – with regard to the protection and integrity of data, verification by the passport holder of that data, the insertion of any corrections necessary, and restrictions on the use of the passport and the data.

The reality is that our citizens want freedom of movement not only within our borders, but outside those borders too. We must therefore be realistic in our approach and ensure that biometrics in passports ensure free and virtually unrestricted movement across borders so we can focus on and combat organised crime, traffickers, drug barons and terrorists.

However, one particular fear that arises from this, and which has frequently been discussed in our debates, is that of the capture of data. In this area we must be extremely vigilant. Access to data must be carefully regulated by national legislation in accordance with the provisions of Community law, European law and our international agreements. Biometrics in passports must reinforce privacy and civil liberties and must not be used as a catalyst to assault fundamental freedoms and rights.

Freedom of Information

Wants public access to the EU institutions' documents.

The Guardian reported in Inside Europe 3 June 2002 (Ian Black)

Unprecedented transparency comes to the opaque heart of Europe today in the form of user-friendly online access to a documents register. It's a triumph for Michael Cashman, the genial former EastEnders star and Labour MEP who negotiated the deal. Exemptions for sensitive areas make it far from perfect, so the civil liberties group, Statewatch, will still be winkling out the 10% or so which Eurocrats want kept secret

Speech on Access to EP, Council and Commission documents 24 September 2003

Let me begin with some items in my report. I do not intend to use my full five minutes. As a rapporteur, it is important to listen – something politicians are often accused of not doing! Let me raise some issues that need highlighting.

We need to have greater and more succinct information on how our citizens can access this right to the information contained within the documents. We need common coding amongst the institutions so that the process of accessing information is simplified. In relation to the Commission at least, which has a number of registers, I would also welcome the establishment of a single register, even if it is only a single doorway into the other registers. We have yet again to reinforce the notion that we are making ourselves accessible to citizens, who may not know about this right or how to access it.

I also want to talk about the case of exemptions. I wish to reinforce that there are no blanket exemptions on access to documents. Every request must be considered on a case-by-case basis. There have been some criticisms about the blanket refusal to give access to legal opinions. Where they fall within the legislative process there should not be a refusal, and, again, every request must be on a case-by-case basis. The European Parliament's committees – even the non-legislative committees – must apply the principle of transparency and at present the standard of transparency is not uniform from one committee to another. There are a number of sensitive documents which have not been registered with the institutions. This needs to be reviewed. I welcome Mrs Maij-Weggen's opinion and recommendations and, in particular, her view that the European Ombudsman should give an assessment of the regulation: how it is working and how the exemptions are applied. We need a common methodology to be applied by each of the institutions and the agencies – we must not forget that the agencies and organisations set up by the institutions must apply the regulation. They should use a common approach in assessing their annual reports, and then comparison will become fruitful and productive.

Speech on Data-processing and the protection of privacy 29 May 2002

On the issue of data retention, Groucho Marx has been referred to tonight. Actually, there were three brothers and the contributions I have heard tonight lead me to believe that the three brothers Groucho, Chico and Harpo are present. The whole deletion of this article on data retention which is now being called for was never, ever called for in committee.

What is this idea that it is a stitch-up, that groups come together to reach a compromise that ill serves the civil liberties of ordinary men and women? Civil liberties, let us remind ourselves, need protecting from the international terrorists who operate cross-border terrorism, drug-trafficking, transnational crime, the trafficking of women and children. These are the civil liberties that we seek to protect with these proper, balanced data retention rules that are in the proposals before Parliament.

I hope Parliament does the sensible thing, which is to vote in favour of the data retention proposals. We must respect the civil liberties of our citizens, and we do, but equally, we must not allow those who operate across our borders to abuse civil liberties to promote their crimes.

Spam

Privacy International shortlisted Michael Cashman MEP in 2002, for his opposition in the European Parliament to controls over email spam, for consideration as worst public servant.

The Register reported in UK govt wants to decide own spam policy 30th October 2001 (Kieren McCarthy)

The UK government has said it supports the European Parliament's plan to let individual countries decide their own spam policy, something that is bad news for UK consumers since the government is known to be swaying towards an opt-out approach to unsolicited mail. ... British MEP Michael Cashman annoyed many when he attempted to justify a pro-spam stance back in July. Since then the Directive has been batted back and forth in a bid to find consensus. Sadly, the latest version still has several major flaws, as we reported a week ago. Spam is set only to get worse.

Speech on Data-processing and the protection of privacy 29 May 2002

First of all, opt-in, opt-out. I have to say, it is absolutely appalling, in any arena of politics, to set expectations which cannot be met. The whole idea of opt-in has been put forward as the solution to end spam. Let me put this on the record. The Commission's proposals on opt-in will not stop one iota of spam whatsoever. Spammers do not abide by laws or regulations. They operate offshore and if we want to drive SMEs, the so-called engine of the new economy, out of the EU, then this is the way to do it.

Speech on Electronic communications (processing of personal data and protection of privacy) 12 November 2001

On the matter of unsolicited commercial e-mail: not all UCE is spam. Here again the Commission has played right into the hands of those who want to drive jobs out of the EU and who pretend that, just because the EU is imposing a ban on sending UCEs within its territory, such a ban will be respected by people in Japan, the Philippines, the USA or anywhere else.

Finally, on spamming, I myself have been spammed. My name has been put on various lists and the spam comes in. That has been done by individuals who have opted me in to the lists held by the spammers. I have a very good option: I have a filter, I have a delete button. We must encourage people to use the technology and stop being their nannies. Please support the Cappato report, as amended.

Links

website
Michael Cashman MEP biography on the European Parliment web site.
Michael Cashman MEP biography on the Party of European Socialists web site.
Michael Cashman MEP on Wikipedia

News

2002-08-28 - BBC - From Albert Square to Brussels: Summary: Gay rights campaigner, MEP and former EastEnder actor Michael Cashman is tipped to become Labour's new European leader. Mr Cashman, one of the first openly gay politicians to win a major UK election, became a West Midlands MEP in 1999. ... Last year he was voted on to Labour's national executive committee, replacing Clive Soley, the Parliamentary Labour Party's chairman.

2002-06-06 - The Guardian - Failure of analysis on data retention: Summary: Michael Cashman MEP - MEPs, including the British Labour delegation, actually voted to ensure that where member states undertake data retention for criminal investigations or to safeguard security, these measures must be "necessary, appropriate and proportionate within a democratic society". They must also be in accordance with the general principles of community law "and should be subject to adequate safeguards in accordance with the European convention of human rights and fundamental freedoms... as interpreted by the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights" (including the right to a private life). Some member states already retain data for investigations. The European parliament has ensured that where this occurs, fundamental freedoms will be protected.

2002-06-03 - The Guardian - Inside Europe: Author: Ian Black; Summary: Unprecedented transparency comes to the opaque heart of Europe today in the form of user-friendly online access to a documents register *. It's a triumph for Michael Cashman, the genial former EastEnders star and Labour MEP who negotiated the deal. Exemptions for sensitive areas make it far from perfect, so the civil liberties group, Statewatch, will still be winkling out the 10% or so which Eurocrats want kept secret

2002-05-30 - The Guardian - Europe agrees junk email reform: Author: Owen Gibson; Summary: New rules on sending junk email and text messages have today been agreed by the European parliament after a long-running debate sparked by former EastEnders actor Michael Cashman. But they are are unlikely to stem the torrent of unsolicited messages that are becoming an increasingly time consuming irritant to mobile phone and computer users. The rules on spam are to be ...

2002-04-22 - The Guardian - Cyberspam: Author: Nicholas Whyte; Summary: The EU directive he mentions, which would introduce an opt-in system for unsolicited commercial email, has been approved by the council of ministers. But it is still blocked in the legislative system thanks to Labour MEP Michael Cashman, who persuaded the European parliament to vote in favour of the rights of spammers last autumn. The parliament has a final chance to reconsider its position early in May.

2002-02-25 - The Register - Big Brother award nominees pile in: Author: John Leyden; Summary: Privacy International has shortlisted Michael Cashman MEP, for his opposition in the European Parliament to controls over email spam, for consideration as worst public servant.

2001-11-14 - The Guardian - EU hands spam decision to governments: Author: Owen Gibson; Summary: In a partial victory for former EastEnders star Michael Cashman, the European parliament is leaving it up to individual countries to decide whether web companies should be allowed to bombard users with unsolicited emails. The long-running debate centred on whether potential customers must opt in or out of email-marketing lists.

2001-10-30 - The Register - UK govt wants to decide own spam policy: Author: Kieren McCarthy; Summary: The UK government has said it supports the European Parliament's plan to let individual countries decide their own spam policy, something that is bad news for UK consumers since the government is known to be swaying towards an opt-out approach to unsolicited mail. ... British MEP Michael Cashman annoyed many when he attempted to justify a pro-spam stance back in July. Since then the Directive has been batted back and forth in a bid to find consensus. Sadly, the latest version still has several major flaws, as we reported a week ago. Spam is set only to get worse.

2001-10-22 - The Register - EU anti-spam legislation up again this evening: Author: Kieren McCarthy; Summary: ... An argument increasingly being put forward by proponents of the "opt-out" spam approach (i.e. you have to ask not to be put on a list) - especially the British MEP Michael Cashman who has infuriated many by coming out in favour of spam - is that since people outside the EU will not be affected by the legislation and will send spam anyway, what's the point in having EU laws on spam? This, both Mr McNamee and ourselves feel, is a classic case of false logic - like "if you've got nothing to hide, why can't we search your house?" As Mr McNamee pointed out to several MEPs in a mass emailing (spam? :-) ) - "Would it be reasonable to argue that there should be no copyright law in Europe because people outside Europe will continue to use the Internet to abuse intellectual property?"

2001-09-07 - The Guardian - Euro MPs plan ban on spam: Author: Owen Gibson; Summary: The European parliament is likely to ban companies from sending unsolicited emails to consumers after overturning a proposal backed by actor Michael Cashman. Earlier this year the committee of citizen's freedom and rights, justice and home affairs backed a proposal to allow companies to "spam" customers as long as they could opt out of receiving them.

2001-07-20 - The Register - FOTW MEP Cashman cops an earful: Author: Lester Haines; Summary: Warning: This flame contains material liable to offend. Nomen Nescio' would like to express his views on MEP Michael Cashman. Is he angry? Yes he is.

2001-07-18 - The Register - MEP Cashman tries to support pro-spam stance: Author: Kieren McCarthy; Summary: The British MEP responsible for scrapping an opt-in approach to unsolicited commercial email in the EU has attempted to explain his reasoning in a stock response email.

2001-07-12 - The Guardian - Online junk mail wins EU backing: Author: Amy Vickers; Summary: A European Union committee is backing companies who want to send out junk mail over the internet following a proposal by former EastEnders star Michael Cashman. At a hearing, the committee ruled that spam, or unsolicited email, was not necessarily a bad thing so long as consumers were given the chance to unsubscribe and could install software to block junk mail.

2001-06-14 - BBC - Soley voted off Labour's NEC: Summary: The Parliamentary Labour Party's chairman Clive Soley has been voted off Labour's national executive committee. Mr Soley was replaced by the former Eastenders actor and current Member of the European Parliament, Michael Cashman.

2001-06-10 - The Register - Europe holds key vote on spam tomorrow: Author: Tim Richardson; Summary: Labour MEP and former Eastenders soap star, Michael Cashman, who sits on the Citizens' Rights and Freedoms committee, believes a ban would have little effect merely driving the practise offshore. "It would disadvantage EU-based businesses and advantage those businesses trading outside the EU," he said. "Instead, we must give people the chance to unsubscribe, if they so wish, and to block spam. "If we don't have the nous to develop software to block spam then the Internet will die under its weight," he said.

2001-06-01 - The Register - Europe bottles spam ban: Author: Tim Richardson; Summary: A European committee has blocked plans to outlaw unsolicited commercial email dealing a major blow to anti-spam supporters. An amendment tabled by UK Labour MEP and former Eastenders soap star, Michael Cashman, was adopted by the Citizens' Rights and Freedoms, Justice and Home Affairs Committee earlier today.

2001-05-04 - The Guardian - Parliament cracks EU secrecy, but new access rules have big catches: Author: Ian Black; Summary: Citizens won the right to unprecedented access to EU documents yesterday after the European parliament ended years of argument by ratifying new rules on openness. ... Freedom of information lobbyists complained that the agreement contained too many exemptions and should not have been negotiated behind closed doors. ... Even so, "This is the beginning of a new era of openness and transparency in the EU," said Michael Cashman, the British Labour MEP who launched the legislation. "This code turns a spotlight on Europe's institutions and opens them up to public scrutiny."

2001-05-03 - BBC - EU sets rules on info freedom: Author: James Rodgers; Summary: The European parliament has passed new legislation which allows the public greater access to official documents. The result was welcomed by the British MEP, Michael Cashman, who prepared the report on which the law was based. He said it meant that when European institutions took decisions, citizens would have the right to access the information upon which those decisions were based. He said this would have particular significance in areas of food safety, or the radiation risk from mobile phone masts. ... Green MEPs were among those who voted against. They say that the legislation still allows for "considerable restrictions" - particularly in areas such as defence, economic policy, and international relations.

2001-04-26 - The Guardian - EU strikes new deal on freedom of information: Author: Ian Black; Summary: The British MEP Michael Cashman, who drafted the agreement, hailed a "mature compromise" between EU institutions for a code of public access to documents, including having 90% available via the internet, a public register and an annual openness report. The arrangement is to be reviewed in three years time." "It's the beginning of a process, not the end," he said after the 29-6 vote in the parliament's citizens' rights committee. "Considering that we had powerful governments against it, it is a considerable achievement."

2000-11-17 - The Guardian - MEPs vote to shine a light on Brussels secrets: Author: Ian Black; Summary: "This vote sends the signal that we are going to deliver something that gives far greater access," Mr Cashman said. "This exercise is about restoring confidence and establishing accountability in the European project. Public confidence in official decision making is very low." But there was criticism that the proposals did not go far enough and could still be watered down. "Parliament will have to continue to fight all the way to get any serious degree of openness from the council and commission," warned Graham Watson of the Liberal Democrat group.

2000-10-26 - The Guardian - New call for wider EU data access: Author: Ian Black; Summary: Michael Cashman, the committee's rapporteur, said yesterday that he hoped governments would respond positively. "We are seeking a change of culture," said Mr Cashman, Labour MEP for the West Midlands. "This is about accessing information that matters to citizens and that will make European institutions more accessible and accountable. "