Summer time? Not if MEPs get their way

turning the clocks forward by an hour every spring to usher in British Summer time may end under European Parliament proposals.

MEPs have questioned if the practice, which gives longer summer evenings before the clocks go back in October, could be a health threat that should be scrapped. An overhaul could see Britain falling in line with ‘Berlin time’ for six months of the year if the Continent abandons the summer time practice but the uK does not.

the Strasbourg chamber yesterday passed a resolution calling for the European Commission to assess the health impact of clock changes, followed by revisions to the system if it is found to be harmful.

French MEP Karima Delli said studies had failed to rule out that the daylight saving system had ‘negative effects on human health, agriculture and road traffic safety’.

A 1994 directive introduced a standard date for all Eu countries to change their clocks. the uK will be able to oppose changes considered by Eu institutions prior to Brexit, but our ability to influence Eu laws will end in 2019.