October 2003

GM food - Will the Government listen to the people?

Thursday 02 October 2003

News today that GM crops have been shown in key field trials to threaten the environment strikes another blow against the introduction of GM crops in the UK but will the Government listen?

Baroness Sarah Ludford London's LibDem Euro-MP is outraged that the Government may push ahead despite such overwhelming opposition. She says:

"We adopted a policy at LibDem conference last week which had at its core the simple principle that UK citizens should not have GM food forced upon them.

"The EU has taken a lot of flak over lifting the moratorium on GM crops under US pressure. But EU strict rules on labelling and separation from traditional or organic crops give Member States all necessary tools to protect their citizens from GM force-feeding.

London MEP welcomes expected green light for Turkey EU talks

Sunday 05 October 2003

London's Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford gives her full support to Wednesday's expected recommendation by the European Commission that EU membership negotiations be opened with Turkey as the political and economic criteria have been sufficiently fulfilled.

Sarah Ludford said: "Turkey has made a big effort in the last 5 years and deserves a green light for EU talks. I also though support the approach whereby the EU should monitor not only pledges but concrete reforms from candidate countries; we need more than lip-service to change.

"So even though torture may have ceased to be systematic it is the continuing practice that must be eradicated and the EU should play a central role in monitoring the progress of reforms as membership talks advance.

UK has power to ban GM crops

Monday 06 October 2003

London's LibDem Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford has strongly welcomed confirmation from the EU's consumer protection chief that the UK could ban GM crops to protect the environment.

Challenged in the European Parliament on UK field trials showing damage to wildlife and biodiversity Commissioner David Byrne said the question of whether GM crops can coexist with traditional and organic farming is a matter for Member States and a proven threat would allow a ban.

Said Sarah:

"This is excellent news for all Londoners who fear that the Blair government's enthusiasm for GM crops has the makings of an environmental disaster."

"Commissioner Byrne's acknowledgement has pulled the rug from under any UK government claim that EU law makes GM bans illegal."

Tory party cavalier about human rights

Wednesday 08 October 2003

Baroness Sarah Ludford London MEP and Liberal Democrat European spokeswoman on asylum and immigration has accused the Conservative Party of abandoning the British tradition of respect for human rights and respect for the international legal right for persecuted people to seek asylum.

"Oliver Letwin is often portrayed as a liberal Tory. Well everything is relative. His proposal to deport all asylum seekers to remote islands is a despicable violation of the 1951 Geneva Convention on refugees."

World health chief right to slam EU governments' betrayal of poor

Thursday 09 October 2003

London's Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford has supported the criticism of EU governments by the head of the World Health Organisation for blocking the spending of a €1 billion (£700 million) fund designed to bring fresh water and sanitation to millions of the world's poor.

She said: "EU leaders are actually letting down Europe's citizens who were proud of the EU pledge of a 'Water for Life' programme at last year's World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. It is our reputation they are sabotaging.

US must respect air passenger privacy rights

Thursday 09 October 2003

MEPs voting in the European Parliament in Brussels have demanded that the US respects fundamental rights in the fight against terrorism by backing down from its intrusive demands for information on passengers on transatlantic flights.

EU-US negotiations are currently deadlocked with the EU saying that there are insufficient guarantees against misuse of data demanded on matters such as ethnic meal requirements banking details and personal contacts. The Parliament is insisting that the EU side should stand firm.

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP justice spokeswoman for the European Liberal Democrats says:

London MEP celebrates London's intellectual might

Monday 13 October 2003

Last week four students from London Metropolitan University took on four students from St. John's College Oxford on BBC2's University Challenge. A thrilling first round match saw London Met proceed to the second round beating St. John's 235-175.

London's LibDem Euro-MP who herself studied in London celebrated the result and said:

"Birkbeck won last year and now London Met fresh from its successful merger* has proved itself a force to be reckoned with in this series. Beating Blair's old college 235-175 was a fantastic result and hopefully the first of many (wins for London Met and defeats for Blair!)."

"London as a great world capital once again underlines its reputation as a capital of learning."

GM Tests - unsafe for Government to proceed

Thursday 16 October 2003

London's LibDem Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford has called on the government to heed today's GM field trial results and drop its plans to force genetically modified food onto a hostile British population.

"These tests confirm the fears that most British people have about the environmental harm of growing GM. And they are also deeply upset that the Government is not listening to them.

"Monsanto's decision to give up trying to make us eat GM is a sound business decision based on what the market will accept. As an admirer of Monsanto GM technology and markets Tony Blair would be well advised to take a leaf out of their book instead of bowing to the orders of George Bush."

Smiley" system for bathing water"

Tuesday 21 October 2003

The European Parliament has voted to update and improve popular EU legislation on the quality of bathing water. With a new 'smiley' symbol this will give better information to people swimming or doing watersports.

The new symbols will indicate if the water at a particular beach has tested free from chemical and biological hazards and therefore meets EU health standards.

Liberal Democrat MEP for London Baroness Sarah Ludford commented:

"The easily recognisable 'smiley' will be a boon for London holidaymakers visiting not only British beaches but those in other EU countries like Spain Italy or Greece. We'll be able to swim in the sea with confidence - even if we don't speak the language!"

Standing up for Victims of Crime

Tuesday 21 October 2003

The European Parliament is calling for all EU countries to have crime victim compensation schemes and adhere to European standards of compensation.

London MEP and European Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Sarah Ludford said:

"My involvement with individual cases has made me sensitive to the difficulties faced by those who have crimes committed against them when abroad. It is essential that the treatment of victims is not a lottery depending on which Member State is visited."

"The expanding EU rightly sees building an area of freedom security and justice as a priority. It is unacceptable that while people can travel freely within the EU they find their rights as victims - or indeed as suspects - vary considerably as they cross borders."

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