In this issue:
A personal 'Thank You' from Richard | Help Richard beat the opposition | Disaster for the Tories | Rebutting UKIP - the battle between reality and myth

Despite active campaigns in many CLPs, the European election results were disappointing for us, with the loss of our second seat.

Commiserations to Beth Kelly who we had hoped to get elected, and thanks to her, each of our Labour team of candidates and to Alan Olive and colleagues at the Party’s regional office for all their efforts in the campaign.

UKIP’s second seat was won on the back of downright lies about Europe and Asylum. This rise in xenophobic attitudes means we will have to work even harder to win the referendum on the new EU constitution.

As the sole remaining Labour Euro MP, I will be even more dependent on you to communicate locally my work, and to suggest campaigns, issues and activities in which I should become involved.

Still nearly a quarter of a million people voted Labour in the East of England on 10 June, and we were able to make important gains from Bedford to Harlow to Norwich.

In the new European Parliament, advances in France, Spain and Italy mean a Socialist group increased to 200 members – fighting together for jobs, social and environmental rights and global justice.

My promise is to seek to represent you effectively and energetically in this work throughout the next five years.

Thanks to each of you for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Richard Howitt MEP

Include information about Richard’s work in all party literature – ‘lift’ items from this regular newsletter and from Richard’s website

Ensure Richard is invited to local events and party activities – it’s a great way to keep in touch even if he can’t always be there

Ensure your CLP elects a European Liaison Officer who can work alongside Richard – as now required by Party rules.

Promote this newsletter, European policy forums and Richard’s regular group visits to Brussels and Strasbourg amongst the wider party membership

Remember your Labour MEP is part of your Labour team.
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While it was a disappointing night for Labour, it was a disaster for the Tories. Before the campaign, the Tories said in a presentation to their own MEPs they wanted to get 42 per cent in these elections, “enough to win a General Election”. Far from it, they failed dramatically to get anywhere near to the 36 per cent that William Hague got in 1999, two years before they suffered a landslide defeat.

Across Europe, opposition parties have been making significant progress. The one obvious exception is the Tories in Britain.
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UKIP say: “The new EU constitution signs away a thousand years of British sovereignty”

The constitution defines and puts limits on powers mostly already exercised by the EU. There is only one new area where the EU gets the power to act – on energy.

UKIP say: “the unelected commission in Brussels has the power to create laws”

It does not. It has the power to propose laws but these are not implemented unless agreed by the council of ministers – which represents all 25 member states – and, in most cases, by the directly elected European Parliament.

UKIP say: “from 1 st May 2004 Britain was the only EU member country to hand over its border control to the EU”

Rubbish. Britain’s borders are controlled by the British Government and entry is controlled by UK law.

UKIP say: “the new regions were drawn up in Brussels”

More rubbish. There is nothing new about the regional boundaries. Britain’s first serious debate about regional government took place in the 1960s – years before we joined the Common Market.

UKIP say: “that approximately 80% of the goods and services produced in the UK stay within the UK”

Meaning that £200 billion worth of goods and services are traded internationally – that’s £10 billion supporting 300,000 jobs here in the East of England.

UKIP say: “the EU’s treaties cannot be changed unless member states agree”

Absolutely. Which is why the EU is an alliance of member states and not the federal superstate they claim.