News

Radek Sikorski, Foreign Minister of Poland has listed the top 7 EU myths that you should never believe. Makes for an interesting read: 

The Times, 25 September 2012

It’s uncomfortable to disagree with the leader on this one. But thanks for the throat sweets Nick. I don't come from any faction or tendency in the party, except the liberal one - hence the day-glo orange jacket. The last time I was arguing that conference should reject the leadership line was almost two decades ago.  Alex Carlisle, then trade and industry spokesman, said 'the entire parliamentary party ' was united against a motion for a minimum wage that Shirley Williams and I argued for. I knew then we'd won!

These days we’re showing a steady discipline under fire, quite rightly. But our core values are at stake on this Bill. Please tell the leadership to think again. Don't vote for the amendment. Do vote for the motion.

Liberal Democrat MEPs Fiona Hall and Sarah Ludford have today launched a joint petition to prevent Tory backbenchers from sabotaging vital European crime-fighting measures that have helped bring to justice in the UK hundreds of fugitive criminals.

An estimated 75 million people fall victim to a crime every year across the EU. The European Parliament has today adopted the first European-wide law on the protection of crime victims, to improve support for them.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has again challenged the European Commission, in a debate in the European Parliament she helped instigate, to lift restrictions on the imports of raw sugar cane for refining which threaten the future of one of London’s largest manufacturers, Tate & Lyle. 

Liberal Democrat MEPs have opposed proposals in the European Parliament to restrict stem cell research. A report drawn up by a London Tory MEP and supported by her Tory colleagues called for stricter requirements on donations of tissues and cells for the purpose of medical research. 

Speaking at a debate of the European Parliament yesterday on her follow-up report into alleged transportation and illegal detention of prisoners in European countries by the CIA, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford criticised Member States for failing to meet their obligations to carry out full, independent inquiries to investigate human rights violations.

Sarah Ludford commented:

“It’s vital that Member States support independent inquiries to ascertain and secure accountability for their complicity in rendition and torture, without which we risk eroding citizens’ trust in the democratic institutions of the EU to protect and promote our human rights.”

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has rejected the advisory opinion of EU court’s top legal adviser (‘Advocate-General’) who wants judges to reject MEPs’ bid to reduce the number of European Parliament sessions in Strasbourg.