European Election year has arrived, with Richard and Labour's team of European candidates now working flat out for victory at the polls on 10th June. Following successful planning meetings throughout the region to involve CLPs in the campaign last Autumn, the Party's Regional Office is inviting all Labour activists to attend a second set of meetings later this month (see box for details). Please make sure your CLP is represented.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party nationally has issued a consultation document - "Building a better, fairer Europe" - with responses due by 13 February, "I want as many CLPs as possible to debate the statement, which gives members a real opportunity to influence the manifesto for the June elections", says Richard. "It is also important for CLPs to send delegates to the European Conference as part of Labour's Spring Event in Manchester, on 12-14 March. Local parties must be given a real say on the campaign this time around".
Last month, Richard joined Harlow & Ipswich CLPs for special campaigning days - all CLPs are encouraged to invite Richard and the team to join your campaigning activities. Just before Christmas, the Electoral Commission announced its recommendation that the North East and East Midlands are pilots for all postal voting at the elections. This means, as expected, a traditional poll will be conducted in our region.

Are you signing up new postal voters - and inviting Richard and the other European candidates to join in?
Are you including information about the elections and the work of Labour's Euro MPs in your local newsletters and leaflets?
Have you registered delegates to Labour's European conference?
Have you debated the "Building a better, fairer Europe" consultation document?
Have you checked out our dedicated European elections website:
www.laboureast-euroelections.info
For assistance with any of the above, please e-mail Richard at:
richard.howitt@geo2.poptel.org.uk
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Richard sends his thanks for all the Christmas cards and good wishes he received. He very much enjoyed attending CLP Christmas socials from Thetford to Southend, Braintree to Castle Point.
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As Euro MP representative on Labour's National Policy Forum, Richard attended the launch of the party's "Big Conversation" consultation exercise. Richard is distributing leaflets and has created a website link to encourage constituents to take part. He has been re-elected to serve on Labour's Britain in the World Policy Commission for the next year.
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· The European Parliament voted to maintain Britain's zero VAT rate for children's clothes - Richard held campaign events in advance of the debate in Luton and St Albans.
· A record 75 visitors to Brussels invited by Richard in December included ten "Youth Parliamentarians" from across the region.
· Richard held discussions with fishermen from Lowestoft and Southend, before lobbying British Fisheries Minister, Ben Bradshaw, in advance of the agreement of annual EU fishing quotas.
· Parliament agreed Richard's written opinion on access to drugs for multiple sclerosis patients in December - he welcomed new specialist MS prescribing centres in Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich.
· The draconian "Access to Ports Services" Directive was finally voted down by Parliament in November - Richard celebrated securing hundreds of dockworkers jobs with TGWU activists in Felixstowe, Harwich and Tilbury.
· Richard was keynote speaker at the European Parliament event for International Volunteer Day.
· As Labour's European Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Richard spoke in parliamentary debates on conflict prevention, and on bringing war criminals to justice from the former Yugoslavia.
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Question: Why was there a failure to agree the proposed new EU constitution?
Answer: Disagreement concerned voting weights for Spain and Poland - the defence of the British veto on tax, social security, foreign policy and the budget were all agreed. Now what will the Tories attack?!
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