Graham Watson speaking
One of LDEG's fringe events at Bournemouth this year was on the subject of Euro campaigning. Speakers were Graham Watson MEP (South West); Catherine Bearder, LDEG vice-chair (no 2 South East) and Ben Jephcott, an expert on campaigns. Phil Bennion chaired. It was generally agreed that the proposals put forward, by Graham in particular, on how Lib Dems do the same wherever they are (local council, national parliament or Europe) and how the environment is an issue of vital importance should be at the top of the EU campaign agenda.
The "In it to Win it" Group also agreed that other important issues to be discussed on the doorstep are how to deal with cross-border crime and how to improve civil liberties.
Graham Watson thought it important that Lib Dems should not be feeding into the "critical friend" idea (which seems to suggest that we are not really part of the EU) but instead help people to understand that wherever Liberal Democrats are, they are working for liberal values.
So let's all work hard to have more Lib Dem MEPs in 2009!
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