Tuesday, 5 May 2009

European Elections 2009 - Party Pledges

I got my polling card through for the forthcoming EU elections, spurring me into researching the parties standing. Which has been surprisingly difficult just to find a list of who's involved. I did come across a good website in my search for information, EU Profiler, you answer a few questions and it charts your position against the main EU parties.

I've gathered together the information I did find with regard to the key party pledges, in alphabetical order:
  • BNP - Opposed to the Euro, wants withdrawal from the European Union, greater national self-sufficiency, promote trading ties with Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
  • Conservatives - If the Lisbon Treaty is not yet in force they will give a referendum on it, amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that any future EU Treaty would be subject to a referendum, opposed to the Euro, do not want to withdraw from the EU.
  • English Democrats - Referendum on whether to stay in the EU, though they are committed to keeping free trade arrangements by rejoining the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), opposed to the Euro.
  • Green Party - Invest in tackling climate change and renewable energy resources, opposed to the Euro, supports the EU membership though wants more accountability and reform within it.
  • Labour - Does not want to withdraw from the EU, wants further enlargement of the EU i.e Turkey to join, invest in tackling climate change, work to liberalise world trade.
  • Lib Dems - Focus on environmental policies, agricultural expenditure, completion of the Single Market, supports the EU membership though wants more accountability and reform with in EU.
  • Libertas - Supports the EU membership though wants to reform the EU, stop the waste, corruption, return control to the member nations. They have candidates standing in all 27 countries.
  • No2EU - Keep Britain out of the Eurozone, reject the Lisbon Treaty, protect the rights of British workers, defend and develop manufacturing, agriculture and fishing industries.
  • Plaid Cymru - Does not want to withdraw from the EU, wants Wales to achieve full membership as a member-state of the EU, wants a more accountable EU.
  • SNP - Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, wants Scotland to achieve full membership as a member-state of the EU, fisheries under national control.
  • The Jury Team - Referendum on the EU, take a strong line on corruption and sleaze in the EU.
  • UKIP - Opposed to the Euro, wants withdrawal from the European Union to revert back to European Economic Community, no to green policy taxes.
  • UK First party - Replace Britain’s membership of the EU with a Free Trade agreement, review all EU-imposed legislation scrapping anything that is not in Britain’s interest.
This is to the best of my knowledge the English, Welsh and Scottish parties standing, I couldn't find much information on Northern Ireland ones. Hopefully more information will be forthcoming nearer the election, it's pretty non-existent at the moment.

Further information on your current MEP can been found on the EU website.

Update: The BBC have a handy election page up now. Which covers all parties campaigning and news, you can view it here.

Update 2: Another handy website - Vote Match answer questions to see how you compare to political parties.


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