What became clear was that Cameron and the Tories are more focused on structure and prefer to keep talking about treaties and referenda and that their view of foreign policy remains stuck in the 19th century. Everybody (like Cameron) who says with a straight face “in Europe and not run by Europe” knows nothing about how decision making on the EU level works. If the other 26 partners would follow Camerons advice and say in Brussels what they are saying in Brest, to say in Brussels what they are saying in Brindisi, to say in Brussels what they say in Braunschweig or Bratislava, … or as Cameron wants to say the same in Brussels what he is saying Bristol  (well in Brussels he can say it to the Kaminsky’s of this world and the other extreme right-wingers the Tories chose to ally themselves with in the European Parliament after snubbing Merkel and Sarkozy) – Europe will cease to work. The common challenges we face are more important than petty squabbles about where best decisions to solve them are made. Climate Change and post crisis recovery needs cooperation on a global stage. European people can have a stronger voice on shaping global outcomes when working together.

Cameron repeated his nonsense on what’s needed is political will not institutions. Firstly, its him who was talking about institutions and Brown and Clegg were talking about content on Europe. Secondly, it required immense political will post WW2 and subsequently to build common institutions to facilitate co-operation and more efficient decision making.

The Tories seem to believe that European integration and cooperation is a zero-sum game. If Germany benefits from a specific measure, does everybody else suffer for it? No, we are all interconnected and if a members-state on the continent would suffer economically, the UK would be effected and vice-versa. As EU-citizens we share a multitude of values and interests. Insisting on dividing each other along national lines does not make sense anymore in an increasingly interdependent and globally interconnected world.

What also became clear during the debate is that the differences between Labour and LibDems on Europe are minimal compared with the gulf that divides both form the Tories.

Please forward this message to all progressive non-British EU-citizens you know who live in the UK.

Non-British EU-citizens living in the UK can not vote in General Elections yet their outcome will have an impact on their lives. Take a long hard look at the Tories and be afraid, be very afraid , or do something about it. Support Labour in any way you can – it matters!

If you live in London you can register to vote in the upcoming Council Elections. The registration deadline is April 20. http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

Lord Ashcroft, who until recently kept his tax status secret, has put millions of pounds (some of the money he avoided paying in tax in the UK) into key marginal seats to support Conservative Candidates. This new group of Tories is particularly euro-sceptic (according to polling by Conservative Home, the conservative’s own online community website).

Help Labour level the playing field in some of the key marginals – we need your support!

And please continue reading to see why this matters so much.

In the European Parliament the Tories have left the mainstream centre-right parties which form the EPP (European People’s Party). After the 2009 European elections they formed a new group, called the European Conservatives and Reformists ECR. Their new allies are now parties on the extreme right. As Leader of this ECR group, the Tories helped to elect Michael Kaminski, who has ben accused of homophobia and anti-semitism and of having been a member of a neo-Nazi skinhead group in Poland in the past. Their Latvian partner party supports annual marches for SS veterans. The kind of partners they have chosen to ally themselves with in Europe, tells us what kind of party the Conservatives still are.

Don’t let the Tories get away with it.

Tory MEPs consistently vote against equality and anti-discrimination legislation and motions :

• On 10 February 2010 most Tory MEPs voted against or abstained on 7 measures in an report on equality for women, including measures for equal pay for women.
• On the same day not a single Tory MEP voted to support a motion calling on Croatia to crack down on homophobic attacks in the country. 16 abstained and one even voted against.
• On 25 February 2010 the European Parliament debated a resolution about signing the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. 22 Tory MEPs voted against, and the other 3 abstained.
• In 2006 Tory MEPs voted against a report on combating violence against women, including provisions criminalising rape in marriage and female genital mutilation. Even last year they abstained on a call for EU member states to increase protection for women against violence

Don’t let the Tories get away with it.

The Tories haven’t supported family friendly policies either. Tory MEPs did not back EU employment guidelines that included targets for flexible working and access to childcare. They opposed calls for EU-wide rights to paternity leave and have twice opposed proposals to link maternity and paternity leave so that fathers can also take time off.

Don’t let the Tories get away with it.

And we all know about the mad comments of Daniel Hannan, although he is not alone in his outrageous views:

• Daniel Hannan on the NHS – “I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.” “We have lived through this mistake for 60 years.” “It’s made people iller.”
• Roger Helmer, Tory MEP, on the NHS – “If the Americans came to me and said, ‘Would you recommend us taking up a system just like the British NHS?’, I think I would have to say ‘No’.”

• Roger Helmer MEP on climate change – “This whole issue has got completely out of hand. It has become a new religion. You have to believe it. If you do not believe it, you are a heretic. They would like to burn us at the stake – using recycled faggots!” “It is not the planet that is in danger. It is freedom… Don’t worry about global warming – it’s a myth.”

Don’t let the Tories get away with it.

George Osborne called for a crackdown on tax-dodging, but Tory MEPs voted this year against proposals supporting the automatic exchange of information to crack down on those seeking to dodge taxes by hiding their money across borders.

Don’t let the Tories get away with it.

What’s really worrying is that the Conservatives are so blinkered by their ideological euro-scepticism that they would veto, vote against and opt out of measures that would actually be of benefit to British people. One example: There is a whole host of Justice and Home Affairs measures designed to combat organised cross border crime and to make everybody in Europe safer. These measures will require the opt-in of the next UK Government. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the party of law and order would refuse to opt in because their euro-sceptic ideology dictates that Justice and Home Affairs are matters for member-states only?

Don’t let the Tories get away with it.

Given the recent Chris Grayling faux-pas one must wonder how gay friendly the Tories have become and how far they still have to go on this. Be that as it may, let’s take Cameron by his own word. Challenged in a recent interview by the Gay Times why no Tory MEP supported a motion in the European Parliament criticising Lithuania’s ‘Section 28′, Cameron let the cat out of the bag. As long as parties agree with the Tories on their Euro-scepticism all other considerations seem to become secondary.

Don’t let Cameron get away with it. Help level the playing field in some of the key marginals.

This is a transcript of part of Cameron’s answer. “…Uh, and generally, just looking at the the whole issue of European alliances which all this is, is getting to, you know the reason for having alliances, and of leaving the EEP and joining and forming this new party, is not because we, ah, approve of every dot and comma of the social policies of these parties. It’s about Europe, this alliance, not about social policy. It’s an alliance about parties that want a more flexible, more open Europe uh rather than Europe as a super state. And of course we would never ally, um, with parties who we thought, you know, who, who’s views stepped, um, beyond the pale. …”

And you can find a full transcript as well as a link to the video on

http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2010/03/david_cameron_o

Please forward this message to all progressive non-British EU-citizens you know who live in the UK.

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David Miliband MP and Claude Moraes speak at the “Get out the International Vote” event on May 10, 2009

Both make a strong case for why EU expats should vote for Labour on June 4.

Watch them by clicking here

“Get out the International Vote” was held by the Labour Party in close co-operation with the UK Branches of PES sister parties.

As we approach the European elections, it is crucial we put forward a progressive voice towards the G20.  The PES Manifesto itself calls to put people first. Because you know we need to fight for jobs by creating 10 million jobs and equal pay for equal work, we need to fight for climate by creating smarter and greener growth and we need to fight for justice by proposing to put an end to tax havens & avoidance and lead the fight to close the gender pay gap.

Less than 48 hours to go! Join us this Saturday!

This is why we want to invite you to join us, this Saturday 28th March as we will march with thousands of other people through London as part of a global campaign to challenge the G20 on the global financial crisis.

Come and meet us at Temple Place by Victoria Embankment at 11am.  Check out the map. The nearest tube is Temple, but this may be packed by the time you get there, Embankment and Waterloo aren’t far, see more here about getting there.

What will you pledge?

• l will attend the march
• I will download the PES cubes and bring them to the march
• I will forward this email to three of my friends to invite them to come too!