LIBERAL Democrats in Arundel & South Downs are making their final preparations to attend the party’s conference in Bournemouth in September.

A number of members from the Chanctonbury area will be heading for the conference which will be held from Saturday 13^th to Wednesday 17^th September.

Debates taking place will include pensions, crime, eco-towns, the housing and mortgage crisis, transport and health.

“We are looking forward to a good conference and some lively debates,” said Councillor Derek Deedman, Local Party Chairman.   “We are also looking forward to speeches from leading figures in the Liberal Democrats, particularly Nick Clegg’s Leader’s speech on the final day.

“People in this area are feeling the pinch with rising unemployment, rising prices for food and energy and a collapsing housing market. So there will be a great deal of interest in the debate about the housing and mortgage crisis and in the speech of Vince Cable MP, our Shadow Chancellor.

“I am also particularly interested in the debate on our visions and values paper, Making it Happen, and on two of our proposed policies - Building a Transport System for the 21^st Century and Shaping Our World Through a Strong Europe. On Making it Happen I especially support the priorities to deliver big tax cuts for those who are struggling and to end the unfair Council Tax, to invest in clean energy instead of nuclear, and getting people out of their cars and into quality public transport. I want to see how our Transport policy will lead to improved public transport for our area, and the way Lib Dem policies will lead to the UK playing a constructive part in Europe to protect and promote our national interests, protect our citizens and further our influence in the world.

“It should be a great few days in Bournemouth which will enable the Liberal Democrats to set out our vision for Britain.”

The need to allow for 12 county divisions in the Horsham District if the electoral review of the County Council is to be adopted in time for next year’s county elections will be mostly achieved within Horsham Town.

There could be a knock on change within the Arundel & South Downs Constituency area, however, as Ashington will be transferred from the Storrington Division to a new Billingshurst and Ashington Division if the new arrangements are approved.

The County Council on 18 April will approve the recommendations to the Electoral Commission’s Boundary Committee. The Committee will be consulting with District and Parish Councils before final recommendations are agreed later this year.

Finally there are indications that the Government will defer next year’s county elections from May to June to take place on the same day as the European Parliamentary elections.

The Liberal Democrat proposal in parliament yesterday that would have enabled a debate today on an ‘in-out’ referendum has been blocked by Labour and Conservative MPs. It was defeated by 471 votes to 68.

There is a report on the vote on the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7277400.stm

MPs’ from a number of parties as well as the Lib Dems, voted for the proposal. Those voting against included Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Arundel & South Downs MP, Nick Herbert.

Once again, Nick Herbert, despite his well known anti- EU views, has voted to deny local people a real vote on Europe. Remember, the Mori survey published yesterday demonstrated that by a margin of more than two to one, people prefer the Lib Dems  call for a referendum on membership of the European Union, to the Conservative proposal for a referendum only on the Lisbon Treaty.

The Liberal Democrats are stepping up their call for a referendum on whether the UK should be in or out of the European Union.

This follows the publication of a new opinion poll by Ipsos-MORI showing people strongly prefer the Liberal Democrat call for a referendum on membership of the European Union, rather than the Conservative proposal for a referendum only on the Lisbon Treaty.

Commenting on the poll, Derek Deedman, County Councillor for Bramber Castle, said,

“This opinion poll shows huge support for the Liberal Democrat view that people should be given a real say on the big issue of British membership of the EU. People clearly reject the narrow vote that the Conservatives are offering.

“I hope Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel & South Downs will look at the results of this poll and rethink his position. It’s still not too late for him to change his mind and join our campaign to give people the real choice on Europe that they want.

 “Anyone who is below the age of 51 has not had a vote on the UK being in or out of Europe. Since the last referendum held over a generation ago, the Europe we joined has changed enormously. The British people, however, have not been given a chance to vote on these changes.

“So far Labour and the Conservatives have colluded to prevent the real referendum on Europe taking place. The Conservatives are proposing a vote on the specific details of the Lisbon Treaty. The Labour Party is terrified of an open debate on the real issue and wants no referendum at all.

“It’s time for the Westminster establishment to stop being so cowardly over Europe and have an open debate with the country. The Liberal Democrats would relish the opportunity to put the case to the British people for our wholehearted commitment to the EU.”

The opinion poll, which was carried out by top polling organisation Ipsos-MORI, showed that 54% of the public favoured a referendum on EU membership, 27% were against a referendum and 19% did not express an opinion.  When only the views of those who are able to give an opinion about what sort of referendum they want are included, 58% back a referendum on EU membership (the Liberal Democrat proposal) against 28% who favour a referendum only on the Lisbon Treaty (the Conservative proposal).

A decision by the Speaker of the House of Commons to refuse to have a debate and vote on a Liberal Democrat amendment calling for a referendum on whether to be in or out of Europe has met with an angry response from Liberal Democrats in Arundel & South Downs

“This is an appalling decision,” said County Councillor for Bramber Castle, Derek Deedman, “To deny Parliament the chance to vote on our proposal to allow the public to have a real say on Britain’s membership of the European Union is an outrage.

“In the last referendum over 30 years ago, people voted to be in a very different Europe from what we have now. There have, rightly, been many important changes as the European Union has developed and grown in size. But the British people have not had the opportunity to vote on those changes.

“Because of the Speaker’s decision, they will be denied the opportunity to decide whether or not they want to stay in the EU.

“Labour and the Conservatives have colluded to prevent the real referendum on Europe taking place. The Conservatives are proposing a vote on the narrow issue of the Lisbon Treaty. Meanwhile, as the events in the Commons show, the Labour Party is terrified of an open debate on the real issue.

“It’s time for the Westminster establishment to stop being so cowardly over Europe and have an open debate with the country. Liberal Democrats will be proud to lead the case for British membership of the EU.”

Derek Deedman wants people to sign the petition calling for a real choice on Europe. The petition is online at http://ourcampaign.org.uk/europe. or through the link on this website.

In the next few weeks Parliament will vote on whether to hold a European referendum.

Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats are campaigning for the British people to be given a real choice through a referendum on our membership of the European Union as a whole.

Unlike the Conservatives, who are proposing just a restrictive referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the Liberal Democrats want that real referendum. This is because if Britain is to stride forward confidently into the 21st century and tackle global issues like climate change and terrorism, we need to decide once and for all whether our future lies within the European Union, or outside it.

In that referendum campaign the Liberal Democrats will argue long and hard for Britain’s vital place in the EU.

Please support our challenge to the Government and the Conservative Party to give the public a real choice on Europe by clicking on the “A real vote on Europe” link, and signing the Liberal Democrat petition.

Congratulations go to Upper Beeding resident, Oliver Hayward, for the  award, the ‘Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany’ presented to him last year at a memorable ceremony at the German Embassy.

A keen supporter of the European Movement, the award reflects that Oliver’s whole life has been intertwined with improving relations between this Country and Germany and the Germans.

Liberal Democrats in Arundel & South Downs want Conservative MP for the area, Nick Herbert, to explain to local residents why he voted to stop the people having their say on Europe.

Labour and the Conservatives voted together on Wednesday 14^th November to deny the public a crucial vote on whether or not the UK should remain in the European Union. A Liberal Democrat amendment to the Queen’s Speech laid out proposals for a referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union. 

Local Liberal Democrat campaigner Derek Deedman, Chairman of Arundel & South Downs Liberal Democrats said, “Labour and the Tories have rejected our call for the public to vote on the UK’s membership of the European Union. Nick Herbert joined with the Labour and Conservative leadership to block the people from having their say. 

“Membership of the European Union is hugely positive for Britain. Cheaper goods, better environmental protection, increased freedom to work and live abroad, and a stronger framework for tackling international crime are just some of the benefits. But the EU has changed beyond recognition since we last had a referendum in 1975. No member of the public under the age of fifty has had the opportunity to vote on the crucial cumulative changes that have taken place over the last few decades. 

“The case for a referendum to endorse, or reject, Britain’s membership of this very different European Union is overwhelming and the Liberal Democrats will be proud to lead the pro-Europe case. 

“It is disappointing that Labour and Conservatives joined forces to defeat the call for the people to have a referendum. Nick Herbert is a well known euro-sceptic and so he should  now explain to the people of Arundel & South Downs why he has denied them a say.” 

Background details

On Wednesday 14^th November, the House of Commons rejected an amendment to the Queen’s Speech by the Liberal Democrats calling for a referendum on membership of the European Union. Whilst Liberal Democrats continue to argue positively for the UK remaining members of the EU, the actual institutions of Europe have developed considerably since the European referendum of 1975. Anyone currently below the age of 50 in the UK has therefore not had the opportunity to take part in a direct vote about the development of the EU and the pooling of national sovereignty this involves.

The Liberal Democrats therefore reject the call for a referendum on the technical issues arising from the amending treaty which has replaced the proposed European Constitution. Instead, we argue that there should be a more fundamental referendum about whether or not Britain should continue as a member. Liberal Democrats would, in such a referendum, argue strongly in favour of remaining in the Union. We also believe that a public debate about Europe would focus people’s attention on the benefits of the EU in way that could never be achieved by holding a very limited referendum on the amending treaty. 

Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament have launched a campaign today to mark the first EU Day against Human Trafficking (on 18th October) which aims to raise awareness to fight this form of organised crime. Tomorrow marks the first European Day Against Human Trafficking. Over two million people are thought to be illegally trafficked around the world each year, up to 4000 of which enter the United Kingdom. Speaking today, Lib Dem Liz Lynne MEP has welcomed the campaign, saying: “The only way this vile trade in human beings will be stamped out is if we have a common and integrated approach across Europe that establishes minimum standards for the treatment of trafficking victims.” The Euro Lib Dems (ALDE) campaign includes:

o a call on all EU citizens to sign the Global Initiative To Fight Trafficking, in view of collecting one million signatures, which will be presented to the UN Secretary General in February 2008

o an amendment to the EU 2008 Budget calling for two million euros to be set aside for the creation of a single EU telephone number that would be available across all Member States

o urging EU member states to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Human Trafficking in Human Beings [Release]