Growing Support for Libertas

With just two days to go before the EU elections, support for Libertas, the pan-European reform party is growing rapidly in the media. As the shine comes off UKIP as the alternative vote, journalists across the board are taking a fresh look at Libertas, the party that took on Brussels and won.

In just the last day or so, the Daily Mail included a glowing piece by Peter Oborne and then the Sun joined in with an endorsement by Trevor Kavanagh and a further compliment in the editorial.

Here are some of the highlights:

“A better bet is Libertas, the new party that sensationally humiliated established political parties in Ireland last year. In a brilliant campaign, backed by The Sun, Libertas turned a near-certain YES into a bombshell NO on the Constitution.”
- Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun

“Many voters are tempted by the increasingly credible Libertas.”
-The Sun Says column

“At a time of moral squalor and decay in Westminster and Brussels, both Libertas and Jury Team offer voters a hugely refreshing - and, perhaps, the only proper - alternative on Thursday.”
- Peter Oborne, Daily Mail

UKIPOCRISY

In a video sent around Europe today, Libertas exposes the hypocrisy of the UK Independence party.

www.libertas.eu/ukip

UKIP’s message of cleaning up Brussels is in direct contrast to how its members operate. Instead of fixing the problem, UKIP has become the problem. During the past European parliamentary term, a full quarter, 25%, of UKIP MEPs were either convicted of fraud, expelled for the same reason, or resigned in disgrace.

Nigel Farage can't stop the sleaze because he employs his wife, they refuse to publish even the most basic details of their expenses and UKIP has the laziest MEPs in Britain, attending just 60% of votes over the last five years.

DON'T judge UKIP on what they say but on HOW they behave. UKIP cannot change anything in Brussels - Libertas is the ONLY party that can change what is happening and stop the gravy train that is pouring out of Brussels. UKIP are NOT the answer, Libertas is.

www.libertas.eu/ukip

Labour MEPs should disclose ALL expenses

Under pressure from Libertas Chairman Declan Ganley, former Labour Minister Denis MacShane MP admitted on television that Labour MEPs should disclose ALL expenses claims in advance of the European election on the 4th June. Labour MEPs just weeks ago voted to keep their expenses hidden from view.

Speaking on the BBC's Daily Politics Show, Mr MacShane also said that Libertas' campaign to put Europe back in the hands of the people, 'sounds terrific'.

Chairman, Declan Ganley said, "it's easy to make promises and conjure up soundbites on television, when the Brussels reality is completely different. On 12th March, Labour MEPs voted to keep their taxpayer-funded expenses a secret."

"We will be watching the British Labour Party closely on behalf of voters over the next three weeks, to ensure that - this time at least - they stick to their word."

The Great European Rip-Off

Best selling author David Craig made an impassioned plea today to voters to send an unequivocal “enough is enough” message to our politicians in Westminster and Brussels.

“You may think that most of our MPs at Westminster are crooks, but their stealing and thieving is petty cash compared to what’s happening in the European Union” claimed the author.

The vast scale of corruption and waste in Brussels is exposed in his latest book “The Great European Rip-Off”. David Craig is a candidate for Libertas in the South East region in the European elections on 4th June.

“Libertas has a mission to stop the waste, end the corruption and put democracy into the heart of Brussels. I want to do everything I can to assist that mission.”

David Craig previously caused a political storm when he released “Squandered – How Gordon Brown is wasting over one trillion pounds of our money”, exposing the shocking amounts of money wasted under New Labour.

World first: star in your own ad for Libertas

This week, Libertas is launching a revolutionary advertising campaign on the internet: in keeping with our mission to return Europe to the people, we’re asking anyone who supports our cause to make an ad for us.

Instead of one big corporate TV spot, we’re creating thousands of individual “people ads” - it’s grassroots, democratic advertising.

Here’s an example below. Please click on this link today (http://libertas.thisad.co.uk) and make your very own ad, which will then automatically run on sites like MySpace and help get the vote out.

It only takes a couple of minutes, it’s completely free, and most importantly, it lets you spread the word and convince others to vote Libertas on June 4!

Thank you,

Robin Matthews

Trust in politicians is dead. They are traitors to their country.

This has been the darkest point in the history of British politics. Trust in politicians is dead.

Politicians right across the board have been exposed with their fingers in the till, and all they can say is that it was the system at fault. It’s disgusting. We should be able to trust our politicians enough to give them a suitcase full of used notes and say ‘just take what you think is right’. We shouldn’t have to implement a system of detailed controls to check that they aren’t fiddling the system!

Politicians are the guardians of our society. If we can’t trust them not to rob from us, then we certainly can’t trust them to run the economy, to handle massive business contracts, to run the NHS, to look after our personal information and so on.

These people are traitors to their country. They have irreparably damaged the entire political system. Full disclosure is the only way that we can drag the political class out of its current depression. That’s why this week we have made a series of ground-breaking pledges about how we will behave if elected. I strongly urge all other parties to follow suit.

It’s no longer simply a case of making sure that this doesn’t happen again. Too much damage has been caused. Our party leaders need to take a strong lead on this and completely rethink the way they do politics. If Libertas can make these promises, why can’t they?

-Robin Matthews

The most undeserved political rise in history

UKIP’s sudden boost in the polls is the most undeserved political rise in the history of Britain. The expense scandal has led to a massive 12% protest swing to UKIP in the latest poll, boosting them to 19% from their previous position on 7%. I am shocked.

There is no party that could deserve public support less if people are angry over expenses. UKIP lost two of its twelve MEPs to fraud charges, both Nigel Farage and Robert Kilroy-Silk employed their wives, they refuse to publish their expenses and UKIP’s MEPs are the laziest in Brussels, voting just 60% of the time. They have done nothing to deserve public support over expenses.

UKIP were well on their way to losing most of their seats in this election, having dropped 9% in the polls from their 2004 high point of 16%. They’ve done nothing for five years, apart from waste tax payers’ money on their lavish lifestyles in Brussels.

I am livid that in the same week that Libertas has launched a series of sleaze-busting pledges designed to stamp out sleaze in Britain, UKIP is gaining by default from this current scandal having done absolutely nothing to earn it. Bitter? You bet I am.

- Robin Matthews

Jimmy Millard

Hello, my name is James (Jimmy) Millard and I’m a Libertas candidate for the constituency of West Midlands in the European elections on June 4th later this year. I’m married with two young sons and run a internet software business which I started with two colleagues and which serves clients in the UK and overseas.

I consider myself to be a Europhile – that is I was born in France, have lived and studied there on three occasions, (in addition to living in Sweden, Italy and Hungary), and speak decent French and Italian. I have numerous close friends from many EU countries.

I’m standing as a candidate in this election because I’ve long held the view that if we in the UK are to end up as little more than a semi-autonomous region of some huge amorphous federal superstate then at least it should be with the explicit permission of the electorate of this country. I have no doubt that citizens of other countries feel broadly the same way – largely powerless and without voice. It is frankly amazing how we have got so close to that point in Europe now without at any time having had a say in the matter.

Originally an engineer, I started my career in the aerospace industry and have since worked as: a journalist covering the electricity / power generation markets; a strategy executive in industry; a management consultant; and a director of three small technology companies. I feel very strongly about the engineering and manufacturing sector and have witnessed at first hand the extraordinary results that can be achieved both in small entrepreneurial start-ups as well as huge multi-national collaborations between countries – e.g. aerospace programmes like Airbus, Tornado and Eurofighter.

I believe it is essential that industrial investment and technology leadership be maintained if we are to sustain growth and job creation going forwards. I am now in no doubt that EU leadership and competitiveness in many markets is being fast eroded by increasing amounts of unnecessary legislation, leaving US and Far Eastern businesses a golden opportunity to overtake us. I really believe that this summer’s elections offers voters a final opportunity to make some wholesale changes to the way the EU is governed and to ask serious questions about its direction and architecture. Such an opportunity may not come again.

Like many, I am irritated by the waste and excess which is so frequently uncovered in Brussels at all levels, and appalled by the contempt being shown to Irish voters (not to mention French and Dutch ones) by the Commission’s continued attempt to foist the Constitution / Treaty of Lisbon onto them. I am also now sufficiently motivated to leave my comfort zone and fight it.

I think Libertas is a novel and ambitious movement which by virtue of its pan-European scope could really achieve a critical mass in the European Parliament and force meaningful change in the EU before it’s too late. The EU needs major democratic reform, NOW.

I sincerely ask you to vote for me and my colleagues in the West Midlands as part of the new, pan-European Libertas on June 4th.

Thank you, James Millard

Bridget Rose

Bridget Rose has had a successful 24 year career as an Army officer and has now left the Forces to run as a candidate for Libertas. She was at school in Sutton Coldfield and in London before studying medieval history at St Andrews University. She joined the military and has served in a wide range of challenging appointments including in Bosnia and Afghanistan where she was the NATO spokesperson for the regional command south. Her last appointment was as the Military Assistant to the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO in Europe where she had regular contact with the EU and its complex beaurocracy. It was this that inspired her to join the Libertas campaign for more accountability, transparency and democracy within the Union.

During a four year gap in service Bridget had experience in the City where she worked for N M Rothschild in the gold markets and ran a successful small business in Herefordshire making smoked game products for restaurants and retailers.

Bridget lives in Herefordshire and has a small holding growing cider apples for a local business which she has done for 10 years. She has been a member of the Parish Council and is a staunch member of the British Legion. Bridget has created a wonderful fruit maze with over 60 different varieties of fruit tree and loves music and art.

The importance of this election cannot be underestimated – each day that goes by sees Brussels notching up new powers and the time has come to halt the steamroller and to re establish the democratic voice.

Zigi Davenport

Hello, my name is Zigi Davenport and I’m a Libertas candidate for the West Midlands region in the European elections on June 4th later this year. I thought I should tell you a bit about myself to help you make an informed decision in the ballot box.

I’m fighting in this election because although I am a European, I feel Brussels and the whole EU has got too big and unruly. It has got out of hand, undemocratic, run by un-elected bureaucrats who are deaf and wasting our money, appearing to be only concerned with their own gravy train. They are implementing unnecessary laws often irrelevant to individual countries and without listening or accepting the votes and voices of their people.

I am a farmer’s wife living and working in Herefordshire for the past 30 years, in addition to running a Property Agency in the French Alps for 20 years. This takes me regularly to France & Switzerland working with local estate agents, craftsman and builders. In partnership with my husband, we have our own chalet in the Alps and a chalet sales and rental business.

My youth and education was spent in Essex and London. On leaving school I worked in Belgium & France before becoming an airhostess with BOAC following my love of people and travel until marriage, when I started Zigi’s Bistro in Hereford and an outside catering business. In 1978 I attended Herefordshire Agricultural College for 2 years to learn about farming! For 15 years I sat as a Magistrate in Hereford City, now on the supplementary list.

I have stepchildren and 7 step grandchildren. I worked with the local Red Cross for many years. My hobbies include tennis, skiing, gardening and interior design.

The Laws coming out of Brussels are now beyond a joke: in agriculture they are a serious threat to livelihoods, causing unnecessary financial burdens on farmers. Many in the UK have now deserted dairy, beef and breeding herds, due to never ending form filling and the recent sheep tag’s scare are almost the last straw! Food supplies and energy must be secure for our Country and Europe. Small firms are discouraged from starting due to more and more regulations or worse closing.

After the Irish No Vote and Declan Ganley’s stirring work I took an interest in Libertas.eu and became more and more committed to his ideals for the party.

In the current economic climate the U.K cannot afford to pay increasing and excessive amounts to an unaccountable European commission, that makes laws by un-elected commissioners. Europe needs a new and fresh party, Libertas with its selection of candidates who are or have been in business, experienced, who are not professional politicians, will bring about a change in direction, and get cost effective results for the people.

My aim is to work for Libertas to ensure that the EU is accountable for the people of Europe, and that their voice and vote is listened to and acted on, at last!

Please give your vote on June 4th for a new pan-European party Libertas.

Thank you,

Zigi Davenport

Andy Bebbington

Hello, my name is Andy Bebbington and I’m the Libertas candidate for the constituency of West Midlands in the European elections on June 4th later this year. I would like to tell you a bit about myself and Libertas to help you make an informed decision at the ballot box.

I’m fighting in this election because I believe that the EU in its present form is not only bad for my country but is also bad for Europe as a whole. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. With reform, the EU can be turned into something that will be good for itself and for its member states. Through Libertas I want to fight for a better EU that is democratically accountable to all the people of Europe; that doesn’t hide its decision making behind closed doors; that only takes power from member states where it is appropriate and that hands back power to sovereign member states where this is more appropriate.

I trained as an electrical engineer with the Central Electricity Generating Board. During my career, I have worked at several power stations in the UK and abroad. I currently work at a power station in the midlands. My wife is a teacher working with special needs pupils. We have two sons. One is at University studying computer science. The other has special needs and lives in supported accommodation.

Because of EU directives, everything that we do, both at work and at home, involves more and more regulations and unnecessary paperwork. This makes our lives more difficult and stifles innovation and productivity. Every hour spent on paperwork and bureaucracy is one less spent doing something productive. Home Information Packs are a good (or is that bad?) example. Paperwork and expense that no-one wants. Some paperwork is always necessary but the EU seems to take every little task and bury it in a mountain of paper that can’t possibly serve any useful purpose.

So what are Libertas’ and my priorities?
Because I believe that democracy is one of the values that unites ALL Europeans, Libertas will make the EU truly open and accountable. We want to publicize the way decisions are made and who makes them, so that we can make Europe work for us.

The economy is in an unprecedented mess, Libertas and I will ensure that EVERY penny spent by Europe demonstrates value-for-money, in order that we can safeguard our financial future, and that of our children.

For too long, the EU has been run in secrecy by élites and bureaucrats that are unknown to most people. I want to be part of a movement that gives Europe back to its people.

That is why I ask you to vote for me and the new, pan-European party, Libertas on June 4th.

Thank you,

Andy Bebbington

Matthew Lingard

Hello, my name is Matthew Lingard and I’m the Libertas candidate for the constituency of the West Midlands in the European elections in June this year. I thought I should tell you a bit about myself to help you make an informed decision at the ballot box.

I’m fighting in this election because I’m really concerned about the European Union, which makes around 80% of our laws, being unaccountable to the people it is supposed to serve. I think it’s time that we – the people – reform and renew Europe ourselves. And now, in a time of global financial turmoil, it is more critical than ever before.

I understand the pressures the recession is putting on hard-working families all over the West Midlands. I know what it means to see your taxes shoot up just as your weekly wage goes down. And being trained as a Social Worker has given me the tools to stand up and advocate for others, especially those who can’t fight for themselves.

Politically, I am a Socialist, showing the wide appeal of the Libertas movement. My ideals are to replace capitalism – a system that creates inequality and injustice – with a socialist system whose institutions represent and are democratically controlled by and accountable to the people as a whole.

Libertas and I will ensure that every penny spent by Europe demonstrates value-for-money, in order that we can safeguard our future, and that of our children.

I believe that democracy is one of the values that unites all Europeans and Libertas will make the EU truly open and accountable like never before. We want to publicise the way decisions are made and who makes them, so that we can make Europe work for us.

Because Europe has been run in secrecy by élites and bureaucrats that are simply unknown to most people, I want to be part of a grassroots group that gives Europe back to the people it serves.

That is why I ask you to vote for me and the new, pan-European party Libertas in June.

Neighbours campaign together for Libertas

Neighbours campaign together for Libertas in the EU Elections

Two out of the 6 Libertas candidates running in the EU elections are neighbours.
Zigi Davenport and Bridget Rose both living and working in Herefordshire are standing in the West Midlands for the new pan European party “Libertas” which will be fielding candidates in all 27 European countries in the forthcoming elections on June 4th. Bridget and Zigi have become seriously disillusioned with a bloated, wasteful and undemocratic European Union run by men in grey suits. They are campaigning for more democracy, accountability and transparency.

Zigi has lived in the county for over 30 years and has family links to the West Midlands as far back as the 1800’s with Davenport China, she sat for 15 years as a magistrate in Hereford and runs a successful property agency in the French Alps. She also ran an outside catering business and Zigi’s Bistro in Hereford. She and her husband have farmed together for 30 years. Zigi finds the red tape from Brussels a complete nonsense not helping farmers but causing unnecessary work and added expense. “The new regulations on sheep tagging mean we have to buy expensive new equipment and each sheep will have 2 tags – this is over regulation and the unelected beaurocrats from Brussels are completely detached from the realities on the ground”

She also said that “because Europe has been run in secrecy by élites that are simply unknown to most people, I want to be part of a grassroots movement that gives Europe back to its people”.

Bridget Rose agrees and said “I am appalled by the fact that despite being promised a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty,the European constitution, we have been signed up to a document which gives even more power to Brussels ”

Bridget was an officer in the British Army for nearly 25 years serving in Bosnia with the EU Force and Afghanistan as the NATO spokesperson for Regional Command South in Kandahar. She was recently the military assistant to the Deputy Supreme Commander for NATO in Europe. She has lived in the county for 25 years and has a small holding of cider apple orchards near Pembridge which she has run for 15 years. She has worked in Belgium and seen the Brussels machine at first hand “The only way to have real impact in stopping Europe steamrolling us into giving up our sovereign rights is to create a bloc of MEPs in the parliament who are all campaigning for the same thing – if all 27 European countries returned 5 MEPs we would have a powerful voice and would be able to reduce costs, reduce the amount of legislation (84% of our laws come from Brussels) and restore democracy”

Bridget and Zigi would be only too delighted to talk to anyone who would like to help them in their campaign or who would like to know more about this new dynamic party.

David Black

I'm David Black a retired Aero Service Engineer and businessman, a Libertas-UK Candidate for the West Midlands Region. I have lived and worked in many remote and hostile corners of the world in my former occupation and I have a wide experience of how the rest of the world lives, works and plays. I'm a married man for forty five years with a son and two grandchildren. A prime consideration in stepping forward to represent you and the Libertas-UK Party in the forthcoming Euro elections, is because I fear for their future if we fail to rein in these unelected Eurocrats making gigantic mistakes at our expense. To help you form an opinion of what I can do for you when elected to the European Parliament, I have set out below some notable achievements in my political career so far.

As an elected member of Derby City Council in the period 1996 to 2002 as the inspiration behind our own Community and Roads Users Independent Steering Executive (CRUISE). I held public meetings and formed an independent group which changed the Balance of Power in the City on three separate occasions. I did this in order to bring about changes of policy that benefited the local community and all its constituents. On being elected to the European Parliament I will immediately seek to bring this expertise and experience to bear in making the European Commission subject to democratic sanction before they can introduce any further directives or measures that the people deem inappropriate.

I'm absolutely sick and fed up with the raft of directives and new legislation that pours out the unelected bureaucracy in Brussels and Strasbourg. In particular the attempt to force on us a Constitution that will take away rights from our own elected Parliaments to veto matters that we as a democratic sovereign state feel are unnecessary and discriminate against the way we have done things for the best part of a thousand years. We have a Bill of Rights which has stood the test of time. We have no need of a Constitution that has already been turned down by France, Holland & Ireland.

In co-operation with like minded Libertas MEPs from countries across the European Union I will participate fully in seeking to end this ridiculous farce of decamping from Brussels to Strasbourg. We need only one Parliament and the expense of running two separate venues in these straitened times must end. For our own sakes and for our children and grand children we have to make this Union work in a secure and democratic way and this what I pledge to you I will be fighting for without delay.

It’s Stamp Out Sleaze Week!

Following a weekend dominated by MPs’ expense scandals, I am proud to announce that Libertas is today leading the charge to Stamp Out Sleaze.

The party is launching five pledges this week, one each day, designed to tackle the root cause of sleaze.

Our first Stamp Out Sleaze pledge is a promise from all Libertas candidates that, if elected, they will publish their expenses in detail, including receipts and explanations of what the purchase was for. Tax payers have a right to see how their cash is being spent and whether they are getting value for money.

We want to lead by example. Politics doesn’t have to be dirty. Our politicians should be people that we can trust to look after our money both wisely and frugally. That’s why we are today promising to be completely open about how we spend tax payers’ money, and I invite all the other parties to sign up to this pledge too, and together we can rebuild trust in our politicians.

The EU is broken, but Libertas can fix it.

- Robin Matthews

The downward spiral of trust in politicians

As everyone will have seen, the news in the UK this weekend has been dominated with the expense abuse by UK MPs from all sides. While the Labour party have been claiming expenses for sink plugs and films, the Conservatives have let the taxpayer foot the bill for their dog food and light bulbs. I wonder, where is the party of integrity? where are the politicians who seek to represent their people as best they can? rather than bleed them dry and let them pick up the tab for all manner of trivialities.

It is no wonder that people distrust politicians when they are ripping off the public left right and centre.

Now, I know there are some that genuinely want to help their constituents, and who do possess the moral fibre to use their expense accounts legitimately and responsibly, but they should not be the exception, they should be the rule.

The fact is, it is a poorly organised system, which is easily abused because of its lack of transparency and openness. If there was a system of full disclosure of expenses (as advocated by Libertas), then none of this would happen.

I notice David Cameron has told MPs to "say sorry" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8043057.stm) to the public for essentially stealing their money - using it to line their pockets and subsidise their already well paid positions instead of putting it into underfunded public services.

The same thing is happening in Brussels, but people in the UK feel so disengaged with European politics that it is largely unnoticed. The Taxpayers' alliance published an eye-opening report on how easily expenses can be abused in Brussels, and how MEPs can become millionaires in one 5 year term. It's been around a while but for those that are yet to see it, it can be found here - http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/files/meppay-1.pdf

Is an apology enough? Does that absolve these rip-off merchants?

The answer is to introduce full disclosure and openness for all expenses, so that people can see exactly where their hard earned money is going in the UK and in Europe.

Libertas has always been committed to democracy accountability and transparency.

With turnout so low in the UK for the European elections it plays into the hands of the mainstream national parties, who have now been exposed as untrustworthy expense cheats, who are only apologising now they have been caught out. This has been going on for far too long, and they have known exactly what they have been doing.

To usher in a new era of openness and politicians you can trust vote for Libertas on June 4th. To keep upto date with all of the Libertas news including candidate launches across Europe sign up to the Libertas mailing list at www.libertas.eu and encourage your friends to do the same...

Warwick University - EU Debate

Libertas West Midlands candidate Jimmy Millard will be debating the merits and issues surrounding the EU at a specially arranged event at Warwick University to raise awareness of the European elections on June 4th.

The other confirmed speaker is Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, and organisers are trying to find representatives of other major parties. The Chair of the debate will be the President of the Students' Union at Warwick, Stuart Thomson.

In addition to debate on the the merits of the EU, there could be any topical questions raised by the audience on things in the news like swine flu, the Gurkhas, Gordon Brown's leadership and MP's expenses.

Anyone interested in attending should contact Tim Hodgson (Lib Dems) on his mobile 07813 514804 in advance as places are limited. It starts at 6pm on Monday 11th in Campus room S0.09 in the Social Studies building.

Birmingham Votes '09

Does politics matter?

Well at Libertas we believe it does and its ripe for some much needed reform.

And we're not alone - on Saturday 9th May, the Electoral Reform Society are holding Birmingham Votes’09, an opportunity for the people of Birmingham to make politics work for them.

The day will be an chance for local community campaigns, faith groups, NGOs and the public to discuss how they can make their voices heard in the June election and beyond.

Activities include:

* Democracy question time - come with your thoughts on making democracy better and put them to our panel of local politicians
* Workshops and presentations – learn how to maximise voter power with our campaigning and elections experts
* Voter registration drive - ensure you are able to have your say on election day
* MEP speed dating – get up close and personal with your candidates for the EU elections
* Local and national campaigns – sign up to change on your street, change in Birmingham, or change to the whole political system!

This event is open to the public. Libertas candidate Jimmy Millard will be there to argue the Libertas case and answer questions - sadly the event was organised before we had got up and running in the West Midlands and so we don't have an official participation.

11.00- 11.30
Welcome and Registration
11.30 – 12.00
Does Politics Matter? - Introduction. Opportunities and obstacles facing Birmingham's voters
12.00 – 13.00
Democracy Question Time, including Richard Burden MP (Lab), John Hemming MP (LD), Councillor Salma Yaqoob (Respect) and Maggie Throup (Cons)
13.00-14.00
Lunch Break
14.00
Workshop 1: Euro Elections - voter registration (including for EU citizens and first time voters) how to campaign, tackling extremism. With former MEP David Hallam
Workshop 2: Looking Ahead to 2010 – what can expect from the next government and why? Is there any real choice? Whose votes will count?
15.00– 16.15
European Elections Hustings - with Euro candidates including Neena Gill MEP (Lab), Mike Nattrass MEP (UKIP), Phil Bennion (LD), Michael Burnett (Cons), Councillor Dave Nellist (Socialist/No2EU) and Felicity Norman (Green).
16.30

For more info visit the event web page at
http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/news.php?ex=0&nid=267

Deaf Ear to Democracy

In an incredible display of arrogance and disrespect for the will of the people, members of the European Parliament will have a lengthy debate tonight on the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. That’s right, the Lisbon Treaty, the same Treaty that Libertas defeated in Ireland and - according to the EU's own rules - is now dead.

Apparently, the bureaucrats in Brussels don’t care what the people think. And the truth is, they don’t need to. Because, right now there is no one to hold them to account.

That’s why the movement you are building right now is so important. It’s up to you whether or not Europe will be accountable to its people. Libertas is our last chance - our only chance - to make sure we have democracy at the heart of the European Union.

The European Elections are only 29 days away. Please email everyone in your contact book. Ask your friends. And get ONE more person to join the movement today.

http://www.libertas.eu/spread-the-word

The MEPs will debate a total of five different reports for this anti-democratic debate, including the Parliament’s new role and responsibilities in implementing the Lisbon Treaty. This discussion is a perfect example of the inherent disrespect the EU has for the democratic views of European citizens, and the lack of accountability to which we are strongly opposed.

This morning Libertas Chairman, and leader of the winning “No” campaign in the 2008 Irish referendum, Declan Ganley said, “Members of the European Parliament are completely out of touch with reality. Instead of debating real issues like how to solve the economic crisis, they are spending resources on something which does not exist because it has been rejected by the people who were allowed a vote on it.

This displays their arrogance, their disrespect for democracy and their waste of taxpayers’ money".

No wonder multiple newspapers across Europe have now confirmed that Brussels is living in fear of our movement, the Libertas movement. What those bureaucrats fear most is a movement of the people. Because they know that if millions of us act together, as Europeans, we will create a new hope for the future – a Europe where Brussels is efficient, focused on creating jobs and restoring our economy, and is overseen by the people.

Please email everyone in your contact list. Ask your friends. And get one more person to join the movement today.

http://www.libertas.eu/spread-the-word

The Libertas movement is gaining tremendous momentum across Europe. We have united the leading figures of the “No” campaigns in France, Ireland and the Netherlands (Declan Ganley, Philippe de Villiers and Eline van den Broek) who worked tirelessly to make sure that the people in their countries were given a vote.

But, now, we need YOU. Our movement is in your hands. You are it. The new hope for Europe will live or die based on what you do now.

So, if you want a strong Europe, a democratic Europe where only elected leaders make the law; if you want a referendum on any Constitution; if you want a real solution to the economic crisis; if you want to hold Brussels to account; if you want to renew the hope that we all had for Europe, then help build the first true party of Europe. A party dedicated to openness, accountability, transparency and democracy.

There are millions of others like you who want a new Europe – they are your friends, your work colleagues, your family members, your neighbours, and members of your community and now we need you to get them to join our cause.

If you can't join us in Rome, join us online!

Over 1000 Libertas leaders, members, volunteers, supporters and special guests are joining us tomorrow in Rome for our first Libertas convention.

From 11am CET (10am GMT) we'll be streaming the convention live on http://www.libertas.eu.

EU Bureaucrats’ worst nightmare

Something is happening across Europe... For the first time in history, a group of ordinary citizens has grabbed the attention of the bureaucrats in Brussels.

Yesterday, we were attacked because we invited YOU – European people - to run as candidates in the European Election. Why would Brussels NOT want real people to be a part of the election? Because a movement of the people is their worst nightmare.

For too long, unelected bureaucrats - the same people who got us into this economic crisis - have been able to grab power and make decisions in back rooms, with no accountability and no vote by the people. Libertas puts an end to that. As Declan said, “We’re coming whether they like it or not.”

And, we are coming in big numbers. In the last few days, tens of thousands of you have signed our petition demanding a referendum on ANY new European Constitution or Treaty which transfers more power to Brussels. The people deserve a say.

But, the only way the people will get a say is with a grassroots movement demanding change. That’s why the most important thing you can do today is to grow our movement.

Please sign the petition and forward it on to all of your friends.

Click here to sign the petition.

The other 190 parties in the European Parliament don’t understand. They are content to take the people out of the process, relying on the same old politicians and the same old, tired ideas. They are happy for you to never even know the name of your local MEP or the 27 European Commissioners who make up to 80% of the laws affecting your life.

Libertas has a different approach…we are counting on YOU. If we continue to rely on hundreds of national parties with their own private, parochial and often petty political interests, we will NEVER change the status quo in Brussels. When you vote for any of these other parties, what you are really voting for is a weak Europe, a Europe that gives you no real say, and a continuation of the mess in Brussels.

Libertas began this movement because we believe that it’s time to take Europe back for the people. We stood up to the Brussels bureaucrats in Ireland and won… now our movement is spreading across Europe.

But there are only 42 days to go until the June election. What you do now really matters.

Please invite all of your friends to join our movement.

http://www.libertas.eu/spread-the-word

If you want a strong, democratic Europe that provides a real solution to the economic crisis; if you want a Europe where ONLY elected representatives make the laws; if you want a referendum on any Constitution; if you want to hold Brussels to account; if you want to renew the hope that we all had for Europe, then help build the first true party for Europe’s people. A party dedicated to openness, accountability, transparency and democracy.

If millions of us act together, as Europeans, we will create a new hope for the future – a Europe where Brussels is efficient, focused on creating jobs, restoring our economy and is accountable to the people.

There are millions of others like you who want a new Europe – they are your friends, your work colleagues, family members, neighbours, and members of your community and now we need you to get them to join our cause.

Our movement is in your hands. It will live or die based on what you do now.

Please email everyone in your contacts. Ask your friends. And get just one more person to join the movement today.

http://www.libertas.eu/spread-the-word

Thank you.

Libertas launches Blogads campaign

Libertas’ innovative new media campaign has reached new heights following the launch of a “blogads” campaign.

The adverts, which link to the Libertas website will be EU-wide and on a variety of topics. The first will feature on some of the UK’s most influential and popular political blogs, including Guido Fawkes.

Libertas can now reach out to the millions of people that check these blogs every day, and offer them the chance to stand up to the unelected Brussels bureaucrats who are trying to take more power for the EU, bypassing the views of the people of Europe.

Robin Matthews, Libertas Party Leader in the UK says:

"What this kind of innovative e-campaigning allows us to do is highlight exactly how badly all major national parties have let down British voters. It's not just that Labour have broken their promise to hold a referendum, or that the Tories are toothless and aimless in the face of Brussels. It is that their MEPs have gone totally native as well, voting themselves massive pay increases while British families go to the wall. It's time that somebody held them to account.''

Launch Date is set for Wednesday May 6th

I can now confirm that the official launch of Libertas' West Midlands candidate list will be made on the morning of Wednesday 6th May at a venue in central Birmingham. A number of venues are currently being held and a press release will be issued this week to the local media.

Robin Matthews, Libertas Party Leader in the UK will be a guest speaker and we hope to confirm another high profile speaker in the form of David Craig, the journalist who was written extensively on subjects such as the rampant extortion of Government departments by IT and other "strategy" consulting firms (he should know he used to work for one) as well as the orgy of excess being perpetrated daily in Brussels with public (i.e. taxpayers') money.

David's latest book covering this subject - "The Great European Rip-Off" - co-written with Matthew Elliott of the Taxpayers' Alliance was published recently and you can find out more by visiting his personal blog at www.snouts-in-the-trough.com

For more about the Taxpayers' Alliance activities in the West Midlands there's plenty to make your eyes water at The Taxpayers' Alliance West Midlands site

Tapping into the Obama effect

I honestly believe that 2009 will be a watershed year in politics everywhere - the election of Barack Obama last November in the US opened people's eye to what is possible using a genuinely democratic system, and the ensuing financial crisis has only reinforced that mood for change. US voters, many of them having never voted before, turned out in their millions to make sure a new administration was elected. They were not disappointed, and a new and very different America has undoubtedly been born.

Sadly those of us that wish to see genuine change in the European Union are unlikely to see anything even remotely similar. Quite the opposite in fact. Rather like in Zimbabwe, you get to vote but it makes no difference. The fact is that the destination of the European "project" has to a large degree already been decided and we are marching inexorably to a point where the pillars of national sovereignty and autonomous government are starting to crumble. Not just in the UK but all member states.

As I write this the entire political machinery of Brussels is geared towards ensuring that the Treaty of Lisbon is "acceptable" to the Irish people (yes the very same ones who rejected it last year) with a multi-million Euro marketing campaign (funded by us) to sweeten it up. Henry Ford, founder of the model T, would be proud of them - after all when it comes to a referendum as far as Brussels is concerned it seems you can give any answer you like, as long its yes.

I know its depressing but don't give up. For the very first time there is a chance to make serious and lasting changes to the way the EU operates. The West Midlands team is now taking shape and you will start to see the tangible effects of our campaign over the next six weeks

Libertas is committed to defeating the Treaty of Lisbon before it passes into law. This virtually incomprehensible legal document of some 3,000 pages (previously called the European Constitution), which has already been rejected three times by France, the Netherlands and Ireland, is still being railroaded onto some 480 million citizens - the majority of whom haven't been given any chance to vote on it, despite the fact the ones that have don't want it.

Libertas supports the European Union as a concept but we believe that major and wholesale reform of its structure, institutions and methodology is now essential. Far from weakening the EU (as some insiders claim) we will in fact strengthen it - lending it legitimacy and authority where all has now been lost.

Libertas is up and running in the West Midlands

I am delighted to announce that Libertas - the pan-European party aiming to reform the EU - is very much up and running in the West Midlands, and our official launch to the media is less than three weeks away. Monday April 20th is looking like the day and a confirmation on that will be out shortly.

If you're reading this the chances are you're already aware of Libertas and what it stands for in the forthcoming European elections - if you're not then please visit our new site at www.libertas.eu and register. We'll keep you up to date with a Newsletter about daily Libertas life and also some snippets from Brussels to keep you amazed with what takes place with your money and in your name.

Over the next few weeks we will be campaigning hard in the West Midlands to ensure that Libertas candidates are elected - not just in the UK but across the 27 member states of the EU. Its a massive task and we need armies of activists and supporters to help spread the word - there is no other way. We are also still inviting high quality candidates to step forward and join our West Midlands list.

We will be fighting actively on a number of EU issues that impact directly on the West Midlands - setting out our case clearly and concisely so that people can make up their own minds. At Libertas we are not afraid of political debate and will taking the established parties and their MEPs head on. Its time we shone a light into some dark places - for example:-

* Have the Tories really made any difference since three Conservative MEPs were elected from the West Midlands in 2004? Sure they and their 24 other UK colleagues all joined up with similar centre-right MEPs from other countries in the European People's Party (EPP), but even this great caucus of 288 MEPS failed to stop the heavily-defeated European Constitution being resurrected from the dead as the "frankenstein" Treaty of Lisbon, a piece of superstate-enabling legislation now being steamrollered into EU law.

If they couldn't stop it from within the EPP - the largest single political grouping in Brussels representing some 37% of the entire European Parliament - how on earth are they going to stop it once David Cameron pulls them out in June (as he has promised to do).

* Labour's record on Europe is almost too shameful to report. Having said that the blame for this actually lies at the door of No. 10 Downing Street not with the individual MEPs elected, who will no doubt dread being asked by their constituents why exactly the Referendum on the EU Constitution (which was promised as a cast-iron manifesto pledge in the 2004 European elections and the 2005 UK general election) was quietly dropped in time for Gordon Brown to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon in Dec. 2007.

Historians will look back at this decision as one of the most disgraceful democratic deceits of modern times: at Libertas we believe that voters will acknowledge this fact and will punish Labour for it accordingly on June 4th. Libertas insists that all countries (and especially this one) should consult their electorate on such a fundamental Treaty as this one.

* And lets not forget UKIP - as if we could ! UKIP really must now come clean and admit the appalling consequences for the West Midlands car industry (already on its knees) of withdrawal from the political EU - its cornerstone policy. It may only be 30 years since British Leyland represented the pinnacle of British car manufacturing, but the fact is that Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, General Motors and other smaller manufacturers have all invested heavily in the UK since 1979 not despite our EEC/EC/EU membership, but of course because of it.

We will keeping our readers in the region up to speed with these and many other themes over the next few weeks as we ramp up our campaign.

If you are interested in helping, joining or supporting us please contact wm@libertas.eu.