Liz Lynne tells Lichfield students UK and rest of Europe are 'stronger together' (Birmingham Yardley Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Yardley Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Liz Lynne tells Lichfield students UK and rest of Europe are 'stronger together'

February 17, 2009 12:00 AM
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats

Liz Lynne MEP Local MEP Liz Lynne met today with sixth-form students and members of the public from Lichfield and the surrounding area at the Guildhall to answer their questions on what the European Union means for Britain.

The Liberal Democrat MEP was part of a question- time style panel made up of other Euro MPs from the area as well as experts in European Economics.

Liz, who is the Vice-President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, told the audience that the UK and the rest of Europe are 'stronger together, and highlighted the importance of the EU, which helps to provide millions of jobs and billions of pounds in trade to the economy.

Liz said:

"50 per cent of our trade is with the rest of the European Union. Trade with other Member States has shot up since we joined the EU and our trading with the rest of Europe is directly linked to around 3 million British jobs.

"It is very important that during the economic crisis we continue to work with other countries in Europe, this is the only way we can truly overcome the credit crunch. We must make sure that we don't panic and try to close ourselves off from the EU, this would be economic suicide.

"The figures show that we have sent more British workers to other EU countries than we have received in return, the idea that the free movement of workers is doing anything but helping our economy is nothing but scare-mongering."

When asked how the UK's membership of the EU affects the so-called 'special relationship' with the US Liz said:

"The question is do we want this special relationship at all costs. The past eight years have seen America lead the UK into Afghanistan and into an illegal war in Iraq, they have made us party to torture and extraordinary rendition flights and they have lowered our standing in the world.

"I hope that Barack Obama will open up the American agenda and seek to have stronger ties not just with traditional allies but with the entire world. I think that this is the only way both the UK and the USA can retain their moral standing."