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| Wales is 'better off' in EU, say the Liberal Democrats | Wales is 'better off' in EU, say the Liberal Democrats |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Welsh Liberal Democrats have launched their campaign for the European elections, arguing that Wales is better off within the EU. | The Welsh Liberal Democrats have launched their campaign for the European elections, arguing that Wales is better off within the EU. |
| The party currently has no Welsh MEPs, and polls suggest it faces a challenge securing one of the four seats available on 22 May. | The party currently has no Welsh MEPs, and polls suggest it faces a challenge securing one of the four seats available on 22 May. |
| Much of the campaign is centred around Britain's membership of the EU. | Much of the campaign is centred around Britain's membership of the EU. |
| The Lib Dems are traditionally pro-European, and say one Welsh job in every 10 depends on trade with the EU. | The Lib Dems are traditionally pro-European, and say one Welsh job in every 10 depends on trade with the EU. |
| In the last European elections, in 2009, the party came fifth in Wales, with just under 11% of the vote, and the Conservatives, Labour, Plaid Cymru and UKIP won a seat each. | In the last European elections, in 2009, the party came fifth in Wales, with just under 11% of the vote, and the Conservatives, Labour, Plaid Cymru and UKIP won a seat each. |
| Speaking on a visit to Aryma, a craft and design company in Llandrindod Wells, Alec Dauncey, the party's lead candidate, said: "Other than UKIP, no-one knows what the other parties stand for. | |
| "For those that want to protect Welsh jobs, then they should be looking to vote Liberal Democrat." | "For those that want to protect Welsh jobs, then they should be looking to vote Liberal Democrat." |
| He said UKIP's plan to take the UK out of the EU would be "catastrophic" and leave Wales and Britain "alone and diminished in the world". | He said UKIP's plan to take the UK out of the EU would be "catastrophic" and leave Wales and Britain "alone and diminished in the world". |
| "We can only tackle the world's big issues by remaining in Europe," he said. | "We can only tackle the world's big issues by remaining in Europe," he said. |
| "As members of the European Union our police can work with their counterparts abroad to crack down on the criminals who cross our borders. | "As members of the European Union our police can work with their counterparts abroad to crack down on the criminals who cross our borders. |
| "Collectively, our governments can be much bolder in the fight against climate change too," he added. | "Collectively, our governments can be much bolder in the fight against climate change too," he added. |
| 'World-class' | 'World-class' |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams said the Lib Dems were the only party of 'In', the only one fully committed to continued EU membership. | Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams said the Lib Dems were the only party of 'In', the only one fully committed to continued EU membership. |
| She said: "The message is clear: are you 'In or Out'? | She said: "The message is clear: are you 'In or Out'? |
| "For the Welsh Liberal Democrats the answer is clear: Britain and Wales are better in Europe. We are Britain's only party of 'In'. | "For the Welsh Liberal Democrats the answer is clear: Britain and Wales are better in Europe. We are Britain's only party of 'In'. |
| "It would be a disaster for our economy and for Welsh jobs if we left the EU. | "It would be a disaster for our economy and for Welsh jobs if we left the EU. |
| "More than one in ten Welsh jobs depend on trade with EU, why on earth would we want to risk people's livelihoods?" | "More than one in ten Welsh jobs depend on trade with EU, why on earth would we want to risk people's livelihoods?" |
| Ms Williams said businesses such as Aryma "thrive" within the European Union. | Ms Williams said businesses such as Aryma "thrive" within the European Union. |
| "This company offers the very best of British craftsmanship and working within the EU helps them continue to trade with world-class brands," she added. | "This company offers the very best of British craftsmanship and working within the EU helps them continue to trade with world-class brands," she added. |
| A list of all candidates and parties standing in the European elections on Thursday 22, May, is available here. | A list of all candidates and parties standing in the European elections on Thursday 22, May, is available here. |