March 2010

This open letter to Home Secretary Alan Johnson MP urging him not to renew the control order provisions of the Prevetion of Terrorism Act 2005 was sent by the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC).

Dear Home Secretary

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford the party's European justice & human rights spokeswoman and vice-chair of the European Parliament delegation to the United States has strongly criticised the vote by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives to label the treatment of Armenians in 1915 as 'genocide'. She said:

"Both the US and the EU have backed the welcome moves to set up a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia to try and establish the truth about the tragic and large-scale wartime deaths almost a century ago. It makes no sense for outsiders in Europe or America to wade in with hobnail boots and prejudge the outcome of that sensitive exercise."

Reacting to the European Court of Human Rights' ruling that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in North Cyprus is a valid forum for settlement of property claims from Greek Cypriot 1974 refugees Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said:

"The Strasbourg court's endorsement of the IPC in north Cyprus as an 'accessible and effective framework of redress' for claims to restitution or compensation is welcome and constructive. I hope that this will give confidence to Greek Cypriots to use the channel of the IPC instead of going down the legally contentious 'Orams case' route of seeking to enforce Republic of Cyprus property judgements in UK or other EU courts."

The European Parliament has voted in favour of exempting struggling small businesses from producing onerous annual accounts. The amendment to EU company law would vastly reduce red tape for the smallest firms which are 90% of the total number of businesses in the capital.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said:

"This will give small businesses the breathing space they need in a tough economic environment."

"Two million businesses in the UK have fewer than 10 employees with 9 out of 10 London firms falling into that category. This slashing of red tape and costs will boost London's economy and help create jobs."

"EU governments must now endorse this proposal. The Brown government needs to work with LibDems to lighten the bureaucratic burden."