Final touches are being put to plans for the European and local election campaign, following on from special campaign consultation meetings which took place with CLP representatives from across the region, held in January and February.
The meetings hosted in Cambridge, Witham, St Albans and Norwich gave members a chance to comment on “mock ups” of the freepost leaflet to be used in the campaign, as well as the county-based leaflet – which constituencies will have 20,000 each to deliver. Five hundred colour postal vote leaflets are available free to constituencies from the Party’s regional office, to help sign up postal votes now from Labour supporters.
Richard and his fellow European candidates are continuing to campaign extensively throughout the region with CLPs, including a street stall in Hemel Hempstead and support in recent local council by-elections. As well as fully participating in the Party’s Regional Conference held in Great Yarmouth with other members of the European team, Richard spoke at a Regional European Policy Forum held at Castle Point, to the Waveney GC, to the UNISON Labour Link meeting in Bedfordshire, at the West Suffolk CLP Annual Dinner, at a regional Young Labour conference held in Colchester and at a European Policy Forum hosted by Harwich CLP.

Have you delivered “In it to win it” leaflets available now from Richard or Eryl’s office – how people in the East of England benefit from EU legislation?
If you have local elections, have you ensured a European section is included in your manifesto and your planned election leaflets (with the correct imprint – contact Alan Olive for more details)?
Have you planned locally for the 20,000 leaflet delivery and for approximately seven candidate visits per constituency during the short campaign in May and in the run up to June 10th?
Are you signing up postal votes amongst Labour supporters and have you ordered your 500 free PV leaflets from the Party’s regional office?
Have you logged in to our special website: www.laboureast-euroelections.info for latest information about the campaign, and links to 16 Briefing Sheets showing how Labour Euro MPs have directly benefited specific issues and groups in our work?
Have you added Richard’s office and the Party’s regional office to your e-mail list to automatically receive information about all campaigning activities organized in your CLP?
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Richard voted in the European Parliament last month to bring to an end the UK’s individual opt-out from the 48-hour working week.
Richard commented, “The EU Working Time Directive is widely abused, with one in three of those who have signed an opt-out saying they were given no choice.
“Trade unions in our region such as the GMB and TGWU are actively involved representing their members to resist such practices, with examples in the public utilities across the region and in the Stansted airport handling sector.
“The TUC estimates that almost 40,000 people in the East of England were given no choice about signing a long hours opt out and that almost 300,000 who have not signed an opt out work more than 48 hours per week. Almost 70 per cent who work more than 48 hours a week say they want to work fewer hours”.
A final decision is due to be taken in the next year.
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Finally business leaders at the Basildon Business Association were told by Richard to embrace Europe, whilst business start-ups in Southend received a boost with Richard lending a hand for the re-launch of the local business advice service.

More action to save dolphins and porpoises
The Parliament voted to extend current regulations on the use of drift nets to the Baltic Sea – an area that will from this summer be largely covered by the territorial waters of EU member states and to completely ban drift nets in EU waters from 2007.

Tory hypocrisy on the Common Agricultural Policy
While Michael Howard was calling for more radical reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in Berlin, his MEPs were voting to turn the clock back in Strasbourg.

Key measure for cleaner seas
The European Parliament backed a key measure for cleaner seas backing proposals for a strengthened European Maritime Safety Agency.

Foreign Affairs and Human Rights
As Labour’s European Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Richard spoke in Parliamentary debates on reform of the United Nations, and on Europe’s relations with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. He raised a parliamentary question against human rights abuses linked to the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Richard took part in a trade union organised delegation to look at human rights violations in Colombia, and took part in protests in Strasbourg against Colombian President Uribe.

In brief:
Labour MEPs successfully halt “right to roam” for struck off professionals
Parliament backs new centre to tackle threat of disease
UK government to toughen up anti-smoking warnings, thanks to hard work of Labour MEPs.
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