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
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
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.
Monday, 18 May 2009
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
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
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Trust in politicians is dead. They have betrayed the 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 have betrayed the 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?
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 have betrayed the 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?
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.
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.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
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.
Find out more here: http://www.stampoutsleaze.co.uk/
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.
Find out more here: http://www.stampoutsleaze.co.uk/
Dare to dream of Reform
At the launch of Marta Andreasen's book 'Brussels laid bare' the person introducing the author suggested that the people who thought that the European Union could be reformed were dreamers. Having first listened to Marta Andreasen talking about her book 'Brussels laid bare', I couldn't help responding to the charge.
Telling him that I would be standing as a Libertas candidate at the forthcoming election, I admitted to being a self-confessed dreamer, but felt duty bound as a former soldier to remind the assembled crowd of the words of T E Lawrence who said:
'..but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.'
And that is exactly the point, our eyes are open. It does not take Marta Andreasen (whose courage is admirable) to tell us what is wrong with the European Union; we know all that. The challenge and real opportunity is to find a solution, which the medium of the first truly pan-European party offers. Eurosceptics would have it that nothing can be done, but as the language of defeat and withdrawal hung heavily in the air, I couldn't help thinking that people were crying out for the language of 'can', the language of a solution, which sits at the core of the Libertas message.
Reconnect the European project with its citizens and I believe anything is possible. Does that mean Libertas is calling for some great monolithic monster of an EU. Absolutely not, otherwise Libertas would have not bothered to champion the 'No' vote so successfully in Ireland. What Libertas wants very simply is something that chimes with and inspires the citizens of Europe, whose voice has been ignored with dangerous and alarming frequency.
Whether or not the message got through to the not insignificant amount of genial UKIPers and Tory grandees is anyone's guess, but it did provoke a response from Lord Tebbit, who has subsequently come out and said people should not vote for a mainstream party in the European elections, by which I assumes he means Libertas. So, a chord had been struck afterall.
Telling him that I would be standing as a Libertas candidate at the forthcoming election, I admitted to being a self-confessed dreamer, but felt duty bound as a former soldier to remind the assembled crowd of the words of T E Lawrence who said:
'..but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.'
And that is exactly the point, our eyes are open. It does not take Marta Andreasen (whose courage is admirable) to tell us what is wrong with the European Union; we know all that. The challenge and real opportunity is to find a solution, which the medium of the first truly pan-European party offers. Eurosceptics would have it that nothing can be done, but as the language of defeat and withdrawal hung heavily in the air, I couldn't help thinking that people were crying out for the language of 'can', the language of a solution, which sits at the core of the Libertas message.
Reconnect the European project with its citizens and I believe anything is possible. Does that mean Libertas is calling for some great monolithic monster of an EU. Absolutely not, otherwise Libertas would have not bothered to champion the 'No' vote so successfully in Ireland. What Libertas wants very simply is something that chimes with and inspires the citizens of Europe, whose voice has been ignored with dangerous and alarming frequency.
Whether or not the message got through to the not insignificant amount of genial UKIPers and Tory grandees is anyone's guess, but it did provoke a response from Lord Tebbit, who has subsequently come out and said people should not vote for a mainstream party in the European elections, by which I assumes he means Libertas. So, a chord had been struck afterall.
Monday, 11 May 2009
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...
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...
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Nigel Farage on Sun Radio
A couple of days ago I was called on to respond to some comments that Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP had made during an interview with Sun Radio.
Nigel claimed that Libertas has been misleading the British public. Apparently, while feigning euroscepticism, Libertas actually wants to create a bigger and stronger Europe! C'mon Nigel, if that's what we wanted, Libertas would have let Lisbon go through on the nod - you know, one of those 'thumbs up' European Parliament moments where no one knows what the hell anyone is voting for, so they just play follow my leader.
So who is misleading who?
And then there is the small matter of the registration of the party name 'Libertas UK' by Bridget Rowe, who Nigel admitted in the interview is still part of the UKIP operation! He also admits to being behind the whole thing, citing reasons so pathetic that they need to be aired again and again, to show his party up for what it really is. Time for the Electoral Commission to take a view don't you think?
Politics of the playground.
Nigel claimed that Libertas has been misleading the British public. Apparently, while feigning euroscepticism, Libertas actually wants to create a bigger and stronger Europe! C'mon Nigel, if that's what we wanted, Libertas would have let Lisbon go through on the nod - you know, one of those 'thumbs up' European Parliament moments where no one knows what the hell anyone is voting for, so they just play follow my leader.
So who is misleading who?
And then there is the small matter of the registration of the party name 'Libertas UK' by Bridget Rowe, who Nigel admitted in the interview is still part of the UKIP operation! He also admits to being behind the whole thing, citing reasons so pathetic that they need to be aired again and again, to show his party up for what it really is. Time for the Electoral Commission to take a view don't you think?
Politics of the playground.
When in Rome
The keynote address by Lech Walesa has captured much comment in the wake of Libertas' first party convention in Rome.
Which was extraordinary (and the genuinely warm standing ovation that preceded it), but then so was the fact that over a 1,000 people from across Europe had made the effort and the sacrifice to be there. There were many other extraordiary moments too, not least the way in which Declan dealt with a small crowd of unruly hecklers, who would be wise to revist the unscripted and eloquent lesson they were given in the small matters of free speech and democracy.
But this is not the real story of Rome, but rather the amount Libertas has achieved in such a small amount of time.
Lest anyone forget, it was only on the 11th of December that Declan announced that Libertas would be running candidates across the European Union. And by the time of the first party congress -not four months later - that is exactly what had been achieved. Imagine too what it took to organise a congress like that at the same time.
Breathtaking.
Perhaps the Libertas mantra should be delivery not ideology.
Remember Libertas stopped the Lisbon Treaty and has now created the first truly pan-European political party. With people flocking in ever increasing numbers to the website, there is no limit to what can be achieved. Really.
Which was extraordinary (and the genuinely warm standing ovation that preceded it), but then so was the fact that over a 1,000 people from across Europe had made the effort and the sacrifice to be there. There were many other extraordiary moments too, not least the way in which Declan dealt with a small crowd of unruly hecklers, who would be wise to revist the unscripted and eloquent lesson they were given in the small matters of free speech and democracy.
But this is not the real story of Rome, but rather the amount Libertas has achieved in such a small amount of time.
Lest anyone forget, it was only on the 11th of December that Declan announced that Libertas would be running candidates across the European Union. And by the time of the first party congress -not four months later - that is exactly what had been achieved. Imagine too what it took to organise a congress like that at the same time.
Breathtaking.
Perhaps the Libertas mantra should be delivery not ideology.
Remember Libertas stopped the Lisbon Treaty and has now created the first truly pan-European political party. With people flocking in ever increasing numbers to the website, there is no limit to what can be achieved. Really.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Business Woman of the Year
I was kindly invited to the Business Woman of the Year Awards at the Saatchi Gallery last night. As well as being an astonishingly well put together event, it was buzzing with the sort of energy, enterprise and creativity that is the lifeblood of the United Kingdom.
In uncertain times, it was a real tonic to listen to 5 women unbowed by talk of recession. There is no easy way to chart a course through difficult economic waters, but you just felt that with business women of this sort of integrity and vision at the helm, we would be alright.
So all in all a breath of fresh, which is precisely what Libertas is trying to inject into the whole European political debate. People are tired with old formulas, disillusioned with an increasingly discredited political class and crying out for something new.
That something new is Libertas.
At last a pan-European political instrument to fix a broken Europe.
Discussing top tips for women in business as well as running tips as GMTV presenter Jenni Falconer tells me about successfully completing the London Marathon for 'The Children's Trust'
In uncertain times, it was a real tonic to listen to 5 women unbowed by talk of recession. There is no easy way to chart a course through difficult economic waters, but you just felt that with business women of this sort of integrity and vision at the helm, we would be alright.
So all in all a breath of fresh, which is precisely what Libertas is trying to inject into the whole European political debate. People are tired with old formulas, disillusioned with an increasingly discredited political class and crying out for something new.
That something new is Libertas.
At last a pan-European political instrument to fix a broken Europe.
Discussing top tips for women in business as well as running tips as GMTV presenter Jenni Falconer tells me about successfully completing the London Marathon for 'The Children's Trust'
Monday, 27 April 2009
April 27th Update
Hi all!
It's been a while since I last updated this blog as we have all been really busy with press conferences and campaigning here in the UK office, so I thought I would bring you up to speed with all of our progress and some of our latest news.
Our candidate launches in London and the East Midlands were very successful, and we now have a great team across the UK with a serious chance of winning seats with your support.
If you would like to find out more about the candidates in London and the East Midlands you can check out their profiles on their regional blogs
http://libertas-london.blogspot.com/
I'm really looking forward about the upcoming Libertas Party Congress in Rome on Friday - It will be an excellent showcase for all of our candidates from across Europe and is a fantastic example of how a grass roots movement of the people can evolve into a serious political force.
This week I will be working on my own campaign in the South West. We are launching our candidates on 5th. Watch this space for the launch details.
Also, I know that this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnMtc_QJ4-E ) has been around for a while, but Bruno Waterfield has revived it for his Brussels Blog on the Telegraph here (http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/bruno_waterfield ) and it is a shining example of why the EU MUST become more transparent, accountable and slimmed down. Remember the money that they are claiming is raised from YOUR taxes, and these people have been elected to represent YOU. If you want to change this, then vote for Libertas on June 4th.
Don't forget to sign our online petition, which has reached over 2 million people and is the most far reaching pan-European petition ever, and demands that the citizens of Europe be given a democratic voice on the EU constitution/Lisbon Treaty. Find our petititon here http://tr.im/iqF1/
As ever, comments are welcome and keep checking www.libertas.eu (the most visited political party's website IN EUROPE)!
Robin
It's been a while since I last updated this blog as we have all been really busy with press conferences and campaigning here in the UK office, so I thought I would bring you up to speed with all of our progress and some of our latest news.
Our candidate launches in London and the East Midlands were very successful, and we now have a great team across the UK with a serious chance of winning seats with your support.
If you would like to find out more about the candidates in London and the East Midlands you can check out their profiles on their regional blogs
http://libertas-london.
http://libertas-em.blogspot.
I'm really looking forward about the upcoming Libertas Party Congress in Rome on Friday - It will be an excellent showcase for all of our candidates from across Europe and is a fantastic example of how a grass roots movement of the people can evolve into a serious political force.
This week I will be working on my own campaign in the South West. We are launching our candidates on 5th. Watch this space for the launch details.
Also, I know that this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Don't forget to sign our online petition, which has reached over 2 million people and is the most far reaching pan-European petition ever, and demands that the citizens of Europe be given a democratic voice on the EU constitution/Lisbon Treaty. Find our petititon here http://tr.im/iqF1/
As ever, comments are welcome and keep checking www.libertas.eu (the most visited political party's website IN EUROPE)!
Robin
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Libertas London Launch
On Wednesday 15th April 2009 at 10.30am, I will be announcing Libertas’ candidates for London. The press conference will present the Libertas candidates standing in London and their campaign for the UK in the run up to the June elections.
It would be great to see you there - come along from 1000 onwards.
VENUE: 6th Floor, St. Paul's Roof Pavillion, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road. London SE1
For further information please contact ukpressoffice@libertas.eu 02078245270
It would be great to see you there - come along from 1000 onwards.
VENUE: 6th Floor, St. Paul's Roof Pavillion, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road. London SE1
For further information please contact ukpressoffice@libertas.eu 02078245270
Monday, 6 April 2009
Mainstream Politicians Have No Answer to Libertas
Declan Ganley debated with British Labour MEP Richard Corbett on the BBC yesterday.
Corbett's struggle to provide adequate answers to Ganley's questions or to address the issues that Libertas raises demonstrates the discomfort that we are causing amongst Europe's political elite.
Predictably, Corbett resorted to trying to smear Libertas by association with parties who we do not work with. This pathetic attempt to block Libertas from entering the public arena only serves to highlight the power of our message.
Declan Ganley debating with Richard Corbett can be seen here
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7982217.stm
EU elites are running scared. They are scared because they know that they don't adequately represent the people that they draw their power from. This is why they don't like referendums. This is why they don't want the EU to be more democratic. This is why they don't like Libertas.
Its time that we made Brussels listen. Its time we make a Europe that we can believe in. Its time for Libertas.
Corbett's struggle to provide adequate answers to Ganley's questions or to address the issues that Libertas raises demonstrates the discomfort that we are causing amongst Europe's political elite.
Predictably, Corbett resorted to trying to smear Libertas by association with parties who we do not work with. This pathetic attempt to block Libertas from entering the public arena only serves to highlight the power of our message.
Declan Ganley debating with Richard Corbett can be seen here
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7982217.stm
EU elites are running scared. They are scared because they know that they don't adequately represent the people that they draw their power from. This is why they don't like referendums. This is why they don't want the EU to be more democratic. This is why they don't like Libertas.
Its time that we made Brussels listen. Its time we make a Europe that we can believe in. Its time for Libertas.
Monday, 30 March 2009
EU Fudge
In the Libertas office we really enjoyed this video from the Taxpayers Alliance.
Focusing on agricultural policy it highlights the waste and overregulation that define so much of the currently self-serving bureaucracy that is the current EU.
Like so much of EU policy, the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) was introduced for good reasons - ensuring European food security, protecting rural livelihoods and promoting food as an aspect of Europe’s rich and diverse culture.
However, equally typically, it has lost its way. The CAP is now an unwieldy bureaucratic juggernaut which has rolled over those who have attempted to reform it in the past. The CAP now stands for unfair contribution and distribution of EU money, for supporting large, industrial farming and for entrenching poverty in the world’s poorest countries. It really is a perfect storm of the EU’s current problems with the Brussels beholden to certain interests rather than representing European people.
Libertas is committed to ending the closed-door decision making and excessive red-tape that are the signs of an undemocratic, unaccountable organisation. If you want to reform the EU and make the CAP fit, join us and make your voice heard and your vote count in the European Elections on June 4th
Saturday, 28 March 2009
To Market
Spent an invigorating couple of hours talking to people at Bath Farmers' Market this morning. The sense of community was tangible and the spirit of enterprise poured out of every stall.
Having served as a soldier, I have often found myself talking to local people around the globe, but to be honest this was the first time I had tried it in the United Kingdom. Suffice to say, people could not have been friendlier and were very interested to hear Libertas’ pan-European approach to creating a Europe people can believe in.
But it ain't going to be plain sailing: some know they should vote, but don’t; others don’t think their vote counts for anything and then there are the party loyalists. One Labour supporter I spoke to was particularly inclined to brush me off. However, when I told him that democracy and reform transcended party politics and asked how he felt being denied a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (a Labour manifesto promise), I began to sense the first traces of a willingness to engage. That we continue to recruit people from across the political spectrum as supporters and candidates is a bit of ammunition I will save for next time.
So, a local market with a local feel: Laura who runs the stalls (expect Libertas there soon); the Thoughtful (and I have to say engaging) Bread Company, the chocolate stall run by Nicola, who would make an excellent candidate. I didn’t manage to persuade her, but I think we may just have got her vote.
And last but not least Ken Box. Just as we were thinking about leaving, up marched Ken clutching the newspaper article from the Bath Chronicle – ‘Ex-Army man to see action in battlefield of European politics’ - to ask what all this Libertas is about? So I told him. In truth, Ken is probably for withdrawal, which is not the Libertas position, but he listened, liked the pan-European approach to fixing the European Union problem and we exchanged emails.
Ken we need your support and the support of many millions more like you who really care about the democratic process, which sits right at the heart of the Libertas platform.
Having served as a soldier, I have often found myself talking to local people around the globe, but to be honest this was the first time I had tried it in the United Kingdom. Suffice to say, people could not have been friendlier and were very interested to hear Libertas’ pan-European approach to creating a Europe people can believe in.
But it ain't going to be plain sailing: some know they should vote, but don’t; others don’t think their vote counts for anything and then there are the party loyalists. One Labour supporter I spoke to was particularly inclined to brush me off. However, when I told him that democracy and reform transcended party politics and asked how he felt being denied a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (a Labour manifesto promise), I began to sense the first traces of a willingness to engage. That we continue to recruit people from across the political spectrum as supporters and candidates is a bit of ammunition I will save for next time.
So, a local market with a local feel: Laura who runs the stalls (expect Libertas there soon); the Thoughtful (and I have to say engaging) Bread Company, the chocolate stall run by Nicola, who would make an excellent candidate. I didn’t manage to persuade her, but I think we may just have got her vote.
And last but not least Ken Box. Just as we were thinking about leaving, up marched Ken clutching the newspaper article from the Bath Chronicle – ‘Ex-Army man to see action in battlefield of European politics’ - to ask what all this Libertas is about? So I told him. In truth, Ken is probably for withdrawal, which is not the Libertas position, but he listened, liked the pan-European approach to fixing the European Union problem and we exchanged emails.
Ken we need your support and the support of many millions more like you who really care about the democratic process, which sits right at the heart of the Libertas platform.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Hitting the Campaign Trail
As momentum gathers, it’s all go on the Libertas campaign trail. As befits the pan-European nature of our campaign, I have spent time this week in Brussels, London and around the UK.
Video of Robin Matthews discussing Libertas' campaign
Yesterday I was interviewed by the BBC for the Politics Show, which will appear on Sunday 29th March. Their approach was very positive, as you would expect from such a well respected programme, and so it was a good opportunity to explain what Libertas is about and the change it wants to bring in Europe.
Susanna Mendonca, who interviewed me, was intrigued about Libertas’ unique position as a pan-European, pro-European party which recognises the potential of the EU, but rejects the current anti-democratic status quo.
Libertas wants a Europe that people can believe in. Currently, the electorate right across the United Kingdom has lost faith in the European project and the only way to restore that faith is to put democracy back at the heart of European Union.
What this means in the first instance is letting people have their say and respecting the verdict delivered at the ballot box. The EU Constitution/Lisbon Treaty, call it what you will, has been rejected by the French, Dutch and Irish voters and yet the EU continues to push it through by any means possible. What part of ‘No’ does Brussels not understand, never mind the breathtaking arrogance of unelected or unaccountable elites telling the people of Europe what is best for them.
Witness Gordon Brown describing Europe as a beacon of hope when democratic citizens across Europe see their hard-earned money being wasted aboard the Brussels gravy train. Last year, Eur 6bn was mis-spent; for 14 years auditors were unable to sign off on the accounts. We can only imagine how much the needless monthly movement of the European Parliament between Brussels and Strasbourg costs, despite the fact that 1 million Europeans have asked for this wasteful practice to be stopped. The Prime Minister further declared how proud he was that Britain had ratified the Lisbon Treaty and yet in a recent poll over 80% of people said they wanted a referendum before any more power was handed over to Brussels. Talk about being out of touch.
Along the campaign trail, it has been heartening to meet people from across the political spectrum who share the Libertas’ values and concerns. As one Labour supporter told me: ‘democracy is not a right wing or left wing value’. Say no more.
On Saturday, 28th March, I will be at the Bath Farmer’s Market and look forward to meeting as many of you as are able to come along and lend your support.
Video of Robin Matthews discussing Libertas' campaign
Yesterday I was interviewed by the BBC for the Politics Show, which will appear on Sunday 29th March. Their approach was very positive, as you would expect from such a well respected programme, and so it was a good opportunity to explain what Libertas is about and the change it wants to bring in Europe.
Susanna Mendonca, who interviewed me, was intrigued about Libertas’ unique position as a pan-European, pro-European party which recognises the potential of the EU, but rejects the current anti-democratic status quo.
Libertas wants a Europe that people can believe in. Currently, the electorate right across the United Kingdom has lost faith in the European project and the only way to restore that faith is to put democracy back at the heart of European Union.
What this means in the first instance is letting people have their say and respecting the verdict delivered at the ballot box. The EU Constitution/Lisbon Treaty, call it what you will, has been rejected by the French, Dutch and Irish voters and yet the EU continues to push it through by any means possible. What part of ‘No’ does Brussels not understand, never mind the breathtaking arrogance of unelected or unaccountable elites telling the people of Europe what is best for them.
Witness Gordon Brown describing Europe as a beacon of hope when democratic citizens across Europe see their hard-earned money being wasted aboard the Brussels gravy train. Last year, Eur 6bn was mis-spent; for 14 years auditors were unable to sign off on the accounts. We can only imagine how much the needless monthly movement of the European Parliament between Brussels and Strasbourg costs, despite the fact that 1 million Europeans have asked for this wasteful practice to be stopped. The Prime Minister further declared how proud he was that Britain had ratified the Lisbon Treaty and yet in a recent poll over 80% of people said they wanted a referendum before any more power was handed over to Brussels. Talk about being out of touch.
Along the campaign trail, it has been heartening to meet people from across the political spectrum who share the Libertas’ values and concerns. As one Labour supporter told me: ‘democracy is not a right wing or left wing value’. Say no more.
On Saturday, 28th March, I will be at the Bath Farmer’s Market and look forward to meeting as many of you as are able to come along and lend your support.
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