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EU election important, says Clegg Stand tall in Europe, Clegg urges
(about 2 hours later)
Nick Clegg has urged voters to take next month's EU elections seriously, saying Europe plays a key role in tackling issues like climate change. The UK must "stand tall" in Europe if the British people are to get the full benefit of EU membership, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said.
Ahead of the launch of his party's EU election campaign, the Lib Dem leader urged people to go to the polls for what would be an "important" election. Launching his party's Euro election campaign, Mr Clegg said the EU offered "safety in numbers" in a recession and help for jobs and the environment.
Decisions taken in Europe on issues like environment and crime had a major impact of people's lives, he stressed. Labour was "finished", he said, while a vote for the Tories would be "wasted".
In the 2004 European elections, the Lib Dems were pushed into fourth place. In the 2004 European elections, the Lib Dems were pushed into fourth place behind the UK Independence Party.
Mr Clegg urged voters to take next month's EU elections seriously, saying Europe took collective decisions on key issues like climate change which affected people's daily lives.
"We have to act together if we want to make Britain safer, if we want to safeguard jobs and protect the environment," Mr Clegg - who was an MEP for five years before being elected to the House of Commons in 2005 - said.
"We are stronger together. We are poorer apart. It is as simple as that."
The Lib Dems were the only party which could get out of Europe "what British families need", he stressed.
The Tories want to pull down the drawbridge, turn the clock back and retreat to the fanatical fringe of European politics Nick Clegg
While the EU was "far from perfect", Mr Clegg added, it was an organisation with enormous economic power which could offer the UK support and protection through the recession.
He said Labour was deflated and disunited while a vote for the Conservatives next month would be a "wasted" one as they were on the sidelines of the European debate.
"The Tories want to pull down the drawbridge, turn the clock back and retreat to the fanatical fringe of European politics."
David Cameron is pulling the Conservatives out of the European People's Party grouping of centre-right parties in the European Parliament, saying it is a federalist body.
The Tories intend to form a new grouping in the European Parliament after the election but the move has attracted criticism from some European leaders and Conservative MPs.
'Relevant''Relevant'
They trailed in behind the UK Independence Party, with 14.9% of the popular vote. The Lib Dems trailed in behind the UK Independence Party in 2004, with 14.9% of the popular vote.
Politicians from the three major UK parties have expressed concerns that voters could use elections for the European Parliament to punish them for the expenses row bedevilling the House of Commons.Politicians from the three major UK parties have expressed concerns that voters could use elections for the European Parliament to punish them for the expenses row bedevilling the House of Commons.
But a Populus opinion poll in Tuesday's Times, conducted by phone after the expenses details were first published, suggests the Lib Dems are now on 22% (up 4% on the month), with Labour on 26% (down 4%) and the Conservatives on 39% (down 4%).But a Populus opinion poll in Tuesday's Times, conducted by phone after the expenses details were first published, suggests the Lib Dems are now on 22% (up 4% on the month), with Labour on 26% (down 4%) and the Conservatives on 39% (down 4%).
If you want to protect yourself and your family from crime, from the credit crunch, from climate change, we cannot do that on our own Nick Clegg
Mr Clegg, who was a member of the European Parliament for five years before being elected to Westminster in 2005, said voters had to ask themselves why the EU elections mattered.
"I think a lot of people think 'oh, why should I bother? Why is this relevant to me, my neighbourhood, my family?
"I actually think they are very important."
Mr Clegg said the Lib Dems were the only party committed to the principle that the UK was better off working together with other countries than on its own.
"Because if you want to protect yourself and your family from crime, from the credit crunch, from climate change, we cannot do that on our own.
"Criminals now cross borders. The weather does not stop at the cliffs of Dover."
On 4 June, voters from across Europe will elect 785 MEPs, made up of representatives from all 27 EU countries. The UK is allocated 72 of these seats.On 4 June, voters from across Europe will elect 785 MEPs, made up of representatives from all 27 EU countries. The UK is allocated 72 of these seats.