London

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has again challenged the European Commission, in a debate in the European Parliament she helped instigate, to lift restrictions on the imports of raw sugar cane for refining which threaten the future of one of London’s largest manufacturers, Tate & Lyle. 

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford is supporting calls by Londoners to keep the Olympic Park open for an extended period after the Paralympic Games, in order to give local residents the chance to see the Olympic Park in all its splendour.

Sarah Ludford commented: 

“I think this is a great idea and would even support the park being open for a month.”

“What a great opportunity for those local residents who have helped to make these Games so spectacular and memorable to experience the magnificence of the Olympic Park. Londoners have played a huge part in making these games successful and this would be a fitting way to say thank you.”

Euro-MPs have backed a recommendation that all cars be fitted with a road crash alert system by 2015.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the call for the European Commission to make compulsory by 2015 the fitting of the 'eCall' system, which automatically alerts emergency services to road crashes.

Sarah Ludford commented:

“Over 2,6OO people were killed or seriously injured on London roads last year, and installing this device could save many of them from death. Even if someone is unconscious, the system will let rescue workers know exactly where they are."

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed a deal reached by EU leaders at their summit today on the location of the new European Patent Court. This will spilt the Court’s functions between Paris, Munich and London, with London becoming the centre for patents in pharmaceuticals and lifesciences.

It was finally decided last year after decades of debate that an EU common patent regime would be established to streamline applications and cut costs in the EU single market, with a court to deal with disputes. However, since then there has been disagreement between France, Germany and the UK regarding the court’s location.

Sarah Ludford commented:

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the findings in a report by Eurosceptic lobby group ‘Open Europe’ highlighting the trade and economic benefits to the UK from membership of the EU 'single market'.

The report not only explicitly endorses full EU membership as 'the best option for the UK' but warns that withdrawal would create 'unpredictable political and economic risks'. Meanwhile however many Tory MPs have signed up to the Better Off Out campaign opposing EU membership, becoming indistinguishable from UKIP.

Sarah Ludford commented:

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has criticised European financial transaction tax proposals which have been voted on in the European Parliament today. She voted against the plan.

An EU-wide financial transaction tax was proposed by the European Commission last September and will also be discussed by EU leaders at an informal summit this week. The UK will have a veto.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has met with the London team of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and signed up as an ‘Entrepreneur Champion’ to support their campaign to stimulate small business growth.

The FSB Real-Life Entrepreneurs campaign aims to persuade the government to take action such as boosting banking competition and increasing access to finance, tackling late payment, easing regulation and simplifying the tax system.      

Sarah Ludford commented:

Dear friends,

We were particularly busy on consumer and citizens' rights in Brussels last week, as well as - very importantly - the interests of taxpayers. More on those stories later, first a word about the London Liberal Democrat conference last Saturday. 

London LibDems

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the launch of a new initiative that will give London residents a greater say in what proposals are brought to the European Commission for EU action.

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) comes into force on Sunday, and allows campaigners who collect at least a million signatures across a minimum of seven EU countries to bring proposals demanding a response by Brussels.

Sarah Ludford commented: