Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford attended an event in London to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as well as a ceremony in the European Parliament earlier in the week. She has signed the 'Speak up, Speak out' pledge against prejudice and discrimination.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the news that post offices across London have been handed a lifeline thanks to the actions of Liberal Democrat business minister Ed Davey.

Ed Davey has announced a 10-year deal between the Post Office and the Royal Mail guaranteeing that the Post Office continues to transact all Royal Mail services such as first and second class post, parcels, air mail, recorded and special deliveries.

Islington Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford today visited St Mary Magdalene Refugee centre in Islington to talk to refugee students about the work of the EU and the European Parliament.

Sarah Ludford commented:

"It was great to meet all the students who are benefitting from the centre's English classes. Learning the language makes it far easier for refugees to fit into society, and a group like this means that they can also develop a valuable social network."

Euro-MPs in Strasbourg will vote today to tighten EU rules tackling the growing mountain of hazardous electronic waste. The original EU legislation on waste electrical and electronic equipment (the 'WEEE' Directive) was negotiated by Liberal Democrat MEPs, who have now spearheaded stricter rules.

TVs, mobile phones, computers and other electrical equipment are the UK's fastest growing waste stream, with more than one million tonnes generated annually. Despite the EU law already in place, only about one third of e-waste is currently disposed of in an accountable and sustainable way. The rest is either dumped in landfills or shipped - often illegally - to non-EU countries.

Commenting on the termination of the Gibson inquiry into allegations of UK involvement in torture and rendition, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford, who was vice chair of the European Parliament's inquiry into European involvement on 'extraordinary rendition', said:

Commenting on the High Court decision to endorse the eviction of the Occupy London protest from outside St Paul's, London's Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, who is also the party's European justice & human rights spokeswoman, said:

"This decision is the right one. Protests should not morph into tent cities. The right to protest is too precious to be undermined by long-term encampments which disrupt normal life to an unacceptable extent, beyond the inevitable and legitimate inconvenience of a one-off demo."

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the call by the European Parliament for the European Commission to propose an EU plan to halve food waste by 2025. It is estimated that almost 50% of edible food gets wasted each year.

The report on food wastage, being presented in Parliament today and voted on tomorrow, has recommendations on improving the efficiency of the food supply chain from the production stage to storage, processing, distribution, management and consumption. It advocates the introduction of food waste prevention targets for all EU states.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that theUK cannot deport extremist Islamic cleric Abu Qatada. Although it accepted the validity of diplomatic assurances fromJordanthat Abu Qatada would not face torture, it said evidence obtained from others under torture could be used to try him, thus jeopardising his right to a fair trial.

Liberal Democrat European human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has criticised outgoing European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek for honouring Spanish Francoist politician Manual Fraga simultaneously with Czech statesman Vaclav Havel in a joint minute's silence.

Sarah Ludford commented:

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed an assurance by the European Commission that EU states failing to comply with improved welfare rules for egg-laying hens will if necessary be taken to taken to the European court.

Sarah Ludford commented:

"This assurance is the result of intense political pressure by Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament. It would be intolerable ifUKegg producers investing in bigger and better cages suffered from illegal competitors undercutting their prices by persisting in poor welfare standards."