Euro-hustings at the London Press Club
Posted by jonathanfryer on Friday, 27th March, 2009
The London Press Club, at the St Bride’s Institute off Fleet Street, hosted a well-attended European elections hustings this evening, at which I was the LibDem representative, alongside fellow London candidates Jean Lambert MEP (Green), Gerard Batten MEP (UKIP), Jean-Paul Floru (Conservative) and Kevin McGrath (Labour). I was pleased to be called (alphabetically) after Gerard and Jean-Paul, as the audience was ready by then to hear some positive news about Europe after the two previous speakers’ attacks on how the EU has taken over our country. In contrast, Kevin McGrath was far more outspokenly pro-European than most Labour politicians, in the sense of stressing the good things that have come from European cooperation, rather than portraying European politics as a boxing match between Britain and the rest. Jean Lambert I have known for many years and we are regular cross-party panel fixtures. The LibDems and the Greens have many common environmental concerns, but the British Greens’ dogmatic rejection of economic growth, the euro and the leading role of the market economy, not to mention the anti-liberal views of some of their number, have always left me feeling uneasy.
JP Floru said
I was surprised by how interchangeable the LibDem, Green and socialist candidates were: all saying the same (pro-European). UKIP wants out and Conservatives want reform. So, we had three different views on Europe: out, reform, or more of it.
Enjoyed your defence of civil liberties, Jonathan.
Interesting in a different way was the Green candidate: we now know where the marxists have gone.
Nosemonkey said
Good to (sort of) meet you at that Vote Match thing yesterday, albeit briefly. One question, though – how are these hustings being publicised? I’ve not heard about any of them so far. At all. The Hampstead & Kilburn one the other day took place less than ten minutes’ walk from me, and I’m genuinely intrigued to find out a bit about the various candidates – because, let’s face it, MEPs are generally speaking a fairly anonymous bunch – something not helped in the slightest by this country’s dire electoral system when it comes to the EP…
jonathanfryer said
Last nıght’s hustings was publicised through various mailing lists, İ believe. My team is goiıng to post details of the main ones I do on my campaign Facebook Group,Jonathan Fryer 4 Europe.
Luke Peters said
Jonathan I can’t quite see how you (and the LibDems in general) can justify being pro-civil liberties and at the same time pro-EU. With the erosion of sovereignty and the centralisation of power in an un-democratic European Commission we are digging the grave of democracy and the accountability of government. This is the fragile foundation on which our precious, hard won liberties rest. For all the LibDems’ protests and concerns about civil liberties, what have you managed to change? Nothing. I hope you will wake up to this before it is too late, if it isn’t already.