South West Lib Dems launch European Election campaign website

By PRSD, on Wednesday, January 7, 2009

posted by Cptn

Graham Watson MEP on the net

South West Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson is apparently an internet fan, which is why he is launching the Lib Dem’s European Election campaign website today – and he just happens to be the leader of the Lib Dems in the European Parliament.

Graham told the PRSD: “Today is a first exciting step towards the important elections later this year. The site will let people keep up to date with what all our great candidates are up to.”

“I am a huge fan of the internet; it is a great resource for all. Increasingly my postal mail bag has been replaced by emails, but today people who may not have contacted me – or know how I can help them – do so through sites like Facebook.”

The European Elections take place in the UK on Thursday, June 4 (and throughout the rest of the EU member states between June 4 and 7).

The list of the Lib Dem South West candidates are Dr Kay Barnard; Justine McGuinness; Humphrey Temperley; Paul Massey and Jeremy Wilcock – profiles can be found on the website, of course.

And here’s just a few Lib Dem Euro facts: At the last European election the Lib Dems polled over 18% of the vote, and currently have 11 UK MEPs. Within the European Parliament Liberal Democrats form the third largest political force, with the 101 member Group headed by this region’s MEP Graham Watson.

• But that’s not the extent of Graham Watson’s ambitions – he’s also launched his own campaign today, that for the presidency of the European Parliament.

Speaking about his ambitions for the Parliament’s future, he told the PRSD: “For too long, Presidents of Parliament have been chosen through backroom deals in smoke-filled rooms. Mine will be the first ever public campaign for the presidency: in this I hope that I will set a precedent.

“We need a proper debate about the role and priorities of the next President. This is what European democracy should be about.

“I hope that by going public with my campaign I will stimulate debate about the candidates and the issues, and spark a contest which will be decided on merit not convenience.

“I have written to every MEP informing them of my intentions, and next week I will unveil the priorities that would mark out my presidency.”

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