Posts Tagged EU
2 June, 2009 at 6:41 am
· Filed under Campaigns, Liberal Democrats, Movies, media, music & culture ·Tagged EU, Europe, European elections, Liberal Democrats, Sarah Ludford
On Thursday night I was part of a posse of 16 Lib Dems out canvassing in Islington with our #1 Euro candidate, Sarah Ludford.
Sarah’s not only our MEP but an Islington resident and former local councillor for Clerkenwell, so she was very much on home ground. It was inspiring to see her in action, connecting with the bread & butter issues that people were raising and showing how positive action in Europe could help. The trail of orange posters going up in her wake was very encouraging!
As well as all the campaigners, Sarah had a UK TV crew and an Italian journalist in tow. He told me that earlier in the week he’d been shadowing a Labour candidate, and been met with slammed doors and abuse in the street: none of that for the Lib Dems.
The TV cameraman kept filming the back of our feet as we walked down the street (like those old title scenes for ‘The Bill’) – most unfair: now there’s another bit of the candidate’s wardrobe to worry about. I’m not sure when our heels will hit the screens but when I find out, I’ll post a link.
Meanwhile, I’ve just caught up with Sarah’s appearance on Sunday’s BBC Politics Show (about 30 minutes in) as part of a rather noisy panel of Euro candidates.
I know I’m biased, but Sarah seemed to me to be miles ahead of the others in giving clear and honest answers to the questions rather than launching into a rant. She pointed out, for example, that 2M Brits benefit from being able to live and work elsewhere in the EU; and how she has used EU laws to force our own government to clean up the river Thames.
I’ve already cast my postal vote for the Lib Dems for the Euros, hoping to get not only Sarah but also Jonathan Fryer elected, and the best possible result for the whole Lib Dem team.
If you are still a floating voter, then try VoteMatch to see how the parties meet your priorities.
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6 March, 2009 at 1:16 pm
· Filed under Consumer ·Tagged equal pay, EU, job discrimination, Jonathan Fryer
An email from Jonathan Fryer reminds me that the principle of equal pay we take for granted came from the 1957 Treaty of Rome.
In 1975, EU directives gave women the right of legal redress for unequal pay through the courts. Then came directives outlawing discrimination on the basis of race. Then in 2006 age discrimination laws were introduced in the UK, again directly stemming from legislation passed by the EU.
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25 February, 2009 at 8:41 am
· Filed under Consumer ·Tagged communications, consumer protection, EU, Europe, mobile phones
One way the EU can help us is to use its clout to get a better deal for consumers.
For example, by forcing mobile phone companies to cap the excessive extra charges for roaming tariffs when you use your phone abroad.
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16 February, 2009 at 9:18 pm
· Filed under Campaigns ·Tagged EU, jobs, training
The EU social and regional funds are paying into London to help the city’s poorest residents.
The money, which keeps coming until 2013, includes £300 million for skills training, and £100 million for helping business development and community regeneration. That’s good news.
Less good is the reason London qualifies for the money. Alongside much poorer countries, and despite all Labour’s rhetoric, we have 1 in 4 London children growing up in poverty.
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14 February, 2009 at 11:06 am
· Filed under Campaigns, Going green ·Tagged energy policy, EU, gas, Jonathan Fryer, Liberal Democrats, renewable energy, Sarah Ludford
Last year I wrote a couple of Guardian items, arguing for a referendum on Britain’s EU membership.
Not a stereotypical Lib Dem position, I know. So let me make it clear, I’d vote yes, and campaign for others to do the same. Europe has brought us peace and prosperity, and is the best way to tackle cross-border problems like pollution, climate change and organised crime.
London’s Lib Dem Euro candidates, led by Sarah Ludford and Jonathan Fryer, are all about making Europe work for us and for the values we share: a fair, free and greener society. And they’ll be getting my vote in the Euro elections this June.
But I think British citizens should have a say on Euro membership; I’ve had the vote for 25 years, and I’ve never had a vote on Europe. No-one under 50 has – in Britain at least.
The Euro-elections mean there’ll be plenty of debate about Europe: even though MEPs are not actually the people who can decide on the UK’s EU membership. And no doubt the Euro-sceptics will be rolling out all their favourite anti arguments and myths.
So it seems a good time to list a few of the good things we Brits have got out of Europe. And why, in my view, we’d be crazy to say no to Europe, even if we get the chance.
For example: the European Commission has earmarked €3.5 billion to construct new gas pipelines and electricity networks. These will link up member states and help it easier for us all to avoid possible future crises from being over-dependent on Russian gas supplies. This is combined with more work on devellping offshore wind projects and carbon-capture facilities; by working together we can get more of Europe’s energy from renewable sources.
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4 February, 2009 at 7:32 am
· Filed under Campaigns ·Tagged employment, EU, Labour, law
Alongside all the images of people playing in the snow, are scenes of the protestors at Lindsey in North Lincs continuing their picketing.
Feelings about the loss of local jobs are heated enough to keep them standing in the cold.
These aren’t people unwilling or unable to ‘get on their bike’ when the local plant closes; the jobs are there in their town. And these aren’t people who are unwilling to take the jobs; the jobs were never offered.
The block letting of a contract to an overseas contractor who brings in their own workforce may be legal: but don’t expect the locals to be happy about it.
It’s wrong to dismiss this as a racist campaign. The global market in labour works for some but not for all, and the losers are entitled to protest – especially when their own government has let them down.
What’s made it worse is the crass response of Labour leaders. First Gordon Brown promises ‘British jobs for British workers’. It sounded like reassurance in a threatening world. It was anything but. The PM knew, even if his audience did not, that this was an empty pledge, designed to sugar-coat welfare reforms.
Then Lord Mandelson adds insult to injury by blithely telling people that they can go and get jobs in Europe. After all, he did. Not so much on yer bike as I’m Mandy, fly me.
Access to jobs in Europe is great if you’re in business class; and a lifesaver for the poorest with nothing to lose. But for ordinary workers with kids in school and mortgages or rent to pay, being told you can go abroad to work is about as helpful as being told there are jobs on the moon.
Lord Mandelson was supposed to be the master of spin. But now he seems arrogant and out of touch. And that’s exactly the situation than could cause extremist views to flourish.
I’m in favour of Britain’s EU membership. I think we are stronger and safer in than out. As Chris Davis points out, over a million Brits are working elsewhere in Europe. And many of the jobs at home depend on our position as an English-speaking EU member.
But I also think our government has a duty to work with its citizens to find ways they can get the jobs they need – like proper skills training, investment in green infrastructure projects, lobbying big contractors to subcontract locally – instead of leaving British workers out in the cold.
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17 December, 2008 at 1:30 pm
· Filed under Liberal Democrats ·Tagged civil partnerships, EU, gay rights, Liberal Democrats, Sarah Ludford
Civil partnerships are in the news again.
The Lilian Ladele case has just gone to a further appeal. And MEPs are being invited to sign up to a motion to ensure recognition of civil partnerships in all parts of the EU.
All the Lib Dem MEPs, not least Islington’s own Sarah Ludford, have already signed up. Sarah’s supported civil partnerships from the start.
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1 October, 2008 at 1:57 pm
· Filed under Going green ·Tagged biofuels, climate change, EU, Greenpeace, Guardian, Liberal Democrats, pollution, vehicle emissions
Back in July, I wrote about the vexed question of biofuels in my Guardian blog - and pointed to possible EU limits on vehicles’ CO2 emissions as a positive alternative.
Well the good news is that the European Parliament’s environment committee has voted through the new rules.
As Greenpeace reports, “In a long-awaited display of responsibility, the European Parliament’s Environment committee has voted through a strong package to reduce emissions from cars. As the committee went into session, it seemed certain that a compromise package riddled with loopholes would be the one to pass. However, the MEPs voted to stick with meaningful legislation, turning their backs on nine months of lobbying by the car industry.”
Among the MEPs leading the campaign for change is UK Lib Dem Fiona Hall, who points out that Liberal Democrat MEPs carried on pushing for tough targets, even when the Socialists chose to work with Tories to try and block the targets and create loopholes.
Proof that who we vote for in next year’s Euro elections does make a difference.
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25 July, 2008 at 2:14 pm
· Filed under Consumer, Liberal Democrats ·Tagged EU, HIV, human rights, Sarah Ludford
Good news that the campaign to get the USA to lift the visa ban on people with HIV has paid off. And congratulations to our local MEP Sarah Ludford for her role in making it happen.
It’s a great example of how the EU can work to defend ordinary people’s rights against unfair government or corporate policies. Like getting a better deal for consumers on roaming mobile phone charges. Not something you’ll hear from the Eurosceptics…
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4 July, 2008 at 8:35 am
· Filed under Going green ·Tagged biofuels, EU, Friends of the Earth, renewable energy, transport policy
This week I met with local Friends of the Earth groups to discuss an EU measure that will have profound effects on the future of communities around the world.
The Renewable Energy Directive sets a binding target to have 20% of the EU’s energy consumption coming from renewables by 2020, and, as part of that, a binding target for each member state to achieve at least 10% of their transport fuel consumption from biofuels.
These renewables targets are a case of the good, the bad and the ugly.
It’s great to have the 20% target. But the 10% transport fuel target is very bad news. Using waste food for fuel is a virtuous circle, whether its cooking oil from the chippy or the wine fuelling Prince Charles’ car. But it cannot possibly meet 10% of current and growing transport demands. The result will be swathes of land in the developing world taken for growing crops for fuel, instead of crops for food, with a downward spiral of food shortages, habitat loss and land wars; the prospect of war and starvation for generations to come. That’s the ugly bit.
But there is an alternative. The EU is also looking at standards for vehicles’ CO2 emissions. Add tougher fuel-efficiency requirements to the mix, and you get a solution that works for the climate, consumers and communities around the world. Not a bad idea …
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