Liz Lynne MEP launches Euro re-election campaign at conference in Wolverhampton

12.00.00am GMT Tue 24th Mar 2009

Euro MP Liz Lynne and the West Midlands Liberal Democrats launched their European Election campaign at the regional party's spring conference held in Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Under the slogan Stronger Together, the Lib Dems are highlighting the achievements of their group of Euro MPs in boosting jobs, fighting international crime, fighting climate change and ending unfair discrimination. The party's West Midlands regional list is once again headed by Liz Lynne, who has been the hardworking Euro MP for the Black Country and the West Midlands region since 1999.

Second on the list is Phil Bennion, a former chair of Staffordshire NFU, with former Warwickshire council group leader and Parliamentary Candidate Susan Juned in third spot.

In an upbeat speech to delegates, Liz Lynne said: "The twin threats of global recession and global warming mean that now more than ever, Britain's national interest lies in co-operating closely with our neighbours in Europe. I am proud of my record as a hardworking MEP and proud to have made a difference, especially in getting this country to ban age discrimination and cutting red tape for businesses.

"It would be madness for us at this time to isolate us from Europe as the Conservatives and UKIP want us to. Many Labour MEPs seem wedded to old fashioned Socialist ideology which would set us back 30 years, witness their recent vote to impose a 48 hour limit on firefighters and indeed anyone else who wants to work overtime.

"We are stronger together with our European neighbours, and the strongest team in this Election for a Europe that puts people first is the Liberal Democrat list. I am proud to lead it."

Liz warned delegates not to take anything for granted in an election where the number of MEP seats available has been cut to six and many urban areas, like Wolverhampton, do not have local elections the same day.

She added: "We need to persuade every Liberal Democrat council voter to vote for our list in the European elections. If every one did so we could win two MEPs."

*The conference held at St Edmunds School also heard speeches by Home Affairs Spokesman Chris Huhne, while transport Spokesman Norman Baker MP attended a debate which passed a new regional transport policy. The plan proposes a massive improvement in integrated public transport, extending the most successful features of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority and Centro to cover the whole region, with three new Integrated Transport Authorities.