Growing Support for Libertas

With just two days to go before the EU elections, support for Libertas, the pan-European reform party is growing rapidly in the media. As the shine comes off UKIP as the alternative vote, journalists across the board are taking a fresh look at Libertas, the party that took on Brussels and won.

In just the last day or so, the Daily Mail included a glowing piece by Peter Oborne and then the Sun joined in with an endorsement by Trevor Kavanagh and a further compliment in the editorial.

Here are some of the highlights:

“A better bet is Libertas, the new party that sensationally humiliated established political parties in Ireland last year. In a brilliant campaign, backed by The Sun, Libertas turned a near-certain YES into a bombshell NO on the Constitution.”
- Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun

“Many voters are tempted by the increasingly credible Libertas.”
-The Sun Says column

“At a time of moral squalor and decay in Westminster and Brussels, both Libertas and Jury Team offer voters a hugely refreshing - and, perhaps, the only proper - alternative on Thursday.”
- Peter Oborne, Daily Mail

Antony Devoy

Hi, my name is Tony Devoy and I’m standing as a candidate for Libertas in the Yorkshire and Humber region for the European election on June 4th.

The reason I am standing as a candidate and fighting for Libertas in this election is because I believe that democracy, accountability and transparency are the three basic requirements for our 21st century society and the operation of effective governance by the people for the people. I also believe that the UK should remain a partner nation within the wider community of European nations and play a major part in the overall reform of the European Parliament and its institutions.

I was born and raised in the ex-mining village of Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire and have been involved in neighbourhood renewal and regeneration through community development work over the past decade. I fervently believe that the best initiatives to improve the lives of ordinary people come from ‘grassroots’ community organisations and the people themselves, and that what works locally can also work on a much greater scale in our increasingly global world. Just as we can make our local communities work for us; so too can we apply the same methods to make Europe work for us.

I began my working life in the old traditional industries; deep-sea trawling, mining, construction and various factory jobs in manufacturing until at the age of 29 I obtained a place at Ruskin College, Oxford and began my quest to gain educational opportunities and qualifications. Many of the ‘old’ jobs, occupations and employment opportunities have either been slimmed down drastically or gone forever. It is therefore essential that we manage the ‘shock of the new’ and make certain that hard-working people are protected from the uncertainties being thrust upon them and are given the chance to succeed in whatever they choose to do.

As a community/political activist my main aim has been to help bring about positive and beneficial changes and make a difference to people’s everyday lives, at work, education and training, in the home and in their leisure time.

Politics, power and control, who holds it and what they do with it; from grassroots local communities to the town hall, from the nation state to the European Union has always occupied my political thinking which is why I was first attracted to Libertas as its priorities are my priorities.

Openness and accountability: Secret meetings, bribes, dodgy practices and backhand deals have no place in our democratic organisations and institutions. Therefore we must have workable and effective procedures to prevent fraud and corruption in all its guises. This needs to be followed up by stringent auditing and accounting procedures applied to all spending to put an end to fraudulent and corrupt practices by members of the European parliament and bureaucratic elites.
The European Union wastes billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money every year on pointless projects and spurious schemes, some of them verging on the criminal. Libertas says that it can and must be stopped and that this blatant waste of our tax money has to end now with all EU spending subjected to thorough scrutiny, total accountability and transparency.

The EU is stuffed full to bursting with faceless bureaucrats who dream up, pass and enforce unwanted and sometimes unworkable laws, dictats and restrictions. Libertas are determined to end this situation whereby the unelected and unaccountable rule, and make the EU a slimmed down, democratic and fully accountable organisation that listens to and responds to the citizens of Europe. Working with the people for the people.

Eight out of every ten of our laws already come from unelected, unaccountable EU bureaucrats. Libertas aims to put an end to the power flooding out of Brussels, returning the majority of power and control back to Britain.

Vote Libertas on June 4th for a reformed European Union. An EU that puts people before power; a peaceful, prosperous, fairer and more just Europe which works for the benefit of all its 500 million citizens, not just the political and bureaucratic elites.

Thank you,

Tony Devoy

Edward Devoy

Hello,
My name is Edward Devoy and I am the Libertas candidate for Yorkshire and Humberside in the European elections on June 4th later this year.

In order that you can make an informed decision at the ballot box, here are a few facts about myself and my political beliefs.

I was born in Dublin and was raised in Barnsley. As a disabled ex-miner struggling to survive on benefits I have fought continuously for myself and many others for a fairer and more equitable system free from red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy and means testing which is more about the exclusion of the needy rather than inclusion into the mainstream of society. I particularly hate the injustice and corruption that pervades politics from local authorities through to the Government.

I am a voluntary worker and political activist. I have five children and seven grandchildren and I firmly believe that Libertas is our only hope to achieve Democracy in a Europe that at present is the total antithesis of the original dream of Jean Monet.

It is corrupt beyond belief and controlled by an elite set of politicians and bureaucrats who's only interest is self interest.

They are totally secretive, totally non-transparent and worst of all totally unaccountable.

Democracy to them is rule by the elite for the elite.

It is time for we the people to re-instate Democracy, rule by the people for the people.

My dream for a future Europe is that it will be a haven of peace and prosperity for all of it's people regardless of Nationality, with the hope that differences and diversity between us will add to our strengths and not our weaknesses.

Libertas with your help can make this dream a reality.

So what are Libertas' and my priorities?

To make all the bureaucrats elected and non-elected individually accountable. Working to eliminate corruption.

To make sure that only elected officials create new laws, for and on behalf of the people.
Full transparency. You will be able to see first hand what money is being spent in your name and what on.

You will have full access to all MEP's voting records , you will be able to see first hand if your elected representative is working for you.

All I ask is that on June 4th you give us a chance, if you don't like what we do then sack us at the next election.

If you are happy with the way Europe is run then continue to vote for the party you always vote for. If however you believe Europe requires radical change, then vote for yourself vote for Libertas.

Give us the chance to create a Europe united in peace and prosperity, a lasting legacy for our children and our children's children.

Stephen Clark

Hello, my name is Stephen Clark and I’m the Libertas candidate for the constituency of Yorkshire & Humberside in the European elections on June 4th later this year. I thought I should tell you a bit about myself to help you make an informed decision in the ballot box.

I’m fighting in this election because I’m really concerned about the UK government's ratification of the EU constitution without a referendum or any consultation with the people as they promised is democratically wrong. I believe the pressure to conform from the EU elitists in Europe to a weak and listless UK government became too much to bear, then to capitulate to a body that is so distant and unaccountable to the people it is supposed to serve is not democratic and definitely not British. But I do believe in Europe, passionately. I think it’s time that we – the people – reform and renew Europe ourselves. And now, in these times of global uncertainties, it is more critical than ever before that we Must Change.

I am a Business Analyst, born and living in Leeds, and Yorkshire. My Wife is a hard working manager in the retail sector our family has grown and flown the nest and we currently enjoy spending time with our two grandchildren. For the first 25 years of my working life I was involved in the motor trade at various levels rising from master technician through to technical training design and delivery to bespoke blue chip clients throughout the world, my main occupation over the last few years has been within the largest financial services provider in the UK as a business analyst so I have seen the recent financial downturn effects on businesses and people at first hand. I understand the pressures the recession is putting on hard-working families all over Yorkshire and the UK. And being in touch with real people with my work over the years has given me the tools and experience to stand up and advocate for others, especially those who can’t fight for themselves.

My Parents are both elderly and are fighting illness and bureaucracy every living day.

I regularly visit my parents to help out with everyday tasks and shopping, however the provision of clear help and advice from the local authorities and healthcare providers saddens me immensely; I think Europe could help more with elderly issues as this is not just a UK problem but universal as the average age of the EU population continues to rise. I am also very keen on tackling environmental issues in a practical, sustainable way which will be our lasting legacy to our children and grandchildren. As we have seen recently the total misuse of resources and position every day by UK and EU politicians and hear comments about the selfishness, greed, and disrespect the modern MP's seem to display today, what more incentive could a normal law abiding taxpaying citizen have to help see and implement real change in politics starting with Europe.. This has provided me with the impetus I needed to help forge a society that cares, a society that treats its elderly, the environment and each other with the respect and the humility deserved in this modern age.

I would like to see the people of Yorkshire & Humberside reunited with the undoubting confidence of knowing that the people they entrust with their votes will work hard fighting for issues that affect them personally, in the businesses where they work and that affect our great county.

All of these experiences have fed into my decision to stand for the European Parliament in 2009.

So what are Libertas’ and my priorities?

Because I believe that democracy is one of the core values that unites ALL Europeans, Libertas will make the EU truly open and accountable like never before. We want to publicise the way decisions are made and who makes them, we want Europe to have constitutional referendums so that we can make Europe work for us.

Because the economy is in an unprecedented mess, Libertas and I (if elected) will ensure that EVERY penny spent by Europe demonstrates value-for-money, in order that we can safeguard our financial future, and that of our children.

Because Europe has been run in secrecy by élites and bureaucrats that are simply unknown to most people, I want to be part of a grassroots movement that gives Europe back to its people.

Europe Must Change.

That is why I ask you to vote for me and the new, pan-European party Libertas on June 4th.

Thank you,

Stephen Clark.

Diana Macleod

Hello, my name is Diana Macleod and I’m the Libertas candidate for the constituency of Yorkshire and The Humber in the European elections on June 6th later this year. I thought I should tell you a bit about myself to help you make an informed decision in the ballot box.

I’m fighting in this election because I believe in Democracy. We are at a crossroads in the future of Europe. On one side, a large unyielding money grabbing machine, where unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats dictate and agree laws behind closed doors: on the other side, a future of freedom within the European community to enable money saving, stoppage of waste and to hold Brussels to account. Which would you choose? I know which side of the divide I stand: firmly on the side of right thinking which allows all people to have their say. A new Treaty/Constitution, which is easily understood, in clear concise form should be put before all the people in all member states, to allow every voter a say in their future.

I was lucky enough to be born into a free society: in a free Britain. The same is not true today. My Father, Iain Macleod, died as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1970.My Mother was in the House of Lords as a life Peeress until her death nine years ago. These facts make me very aware of the difference between then and now.

I was a journalist before I married in 1968.We have three sons and have lived in Buckinghamshire for 38 years; I have run an arable and livestock farm. I ran a retail business, and started and ran a nursery school for 25 years. I have been a Local District Councillor.

I have been, and still am involved in local and National charities. My special interests are health, main-stream and special needs education, and support of the disabled or elderly. The support of all people who are suffering with the pressures of the recession, are of paramount importance. I am committed to the countryside, and to people who enable us all to enjoy the surroundings and rear and grow our food.

I am standing in Yorkshire and the Humber, instead of the South East, because my roots are in the North.

I am concerned about the attitudes and promises of all major parties on the subject of our relationship with the European Union; especially regarding a referendum within the European community.Libertas has the right priorities: they are the same as mine. The economy is in an unprecedented mess, Libertas and I will ensure that EVERY penny spent by Europe demonstrates value-for-money, in order that we can safeguard our financial future, and that of future generations.

I believe that Democracy is one of the values that unite ALL Europeans. Libertas will make the EU truly open and accountable like never before. We want to publicise the way decisions are made and who makes them, so that we can make Europe work for us.

Because Europe has been run in secrecy by élites and bureaucrats that are simply unknown to most people, I want to be part of a grassroots movement that gives Europe back to its people.

That is why I ask you to vote for me and the new, pan-European party Libertas on June 4th

THANK YOU,

DIANA MACLEOD

Trevor Bending

Trevor grew up in London but has lived in York, Leeds and Humberside since 1980, having studied at York University from 1974–9 and 1986-7 where he completed a degree in Language and Education, an MA in English Language Teaching and qualified as a teacher.

This came after leaving school at 17 and working in insurance, purchasing and as a water laboratory technician followed by three years stock-control with Ford Motor Company before “going back to school”.

He published the First UK Internet Directory in 1997 and now semi–retired he currently divides his time between Humberside (where he sometimes sails and manages a local sailing club’s website), London (where his partner and her various animals live), Spain and Portugal. (a Londoner and European then; but at least his son is a Yorkshireman! Trevor was widowed in 1988 and brought up his son in Humberside as a single parent whilst working as a teacher).

Always interested in politics, with special interest in the environment and education, but never before politically active, he is running as a Libertas candidate because he is angered by the inefficient bureaucracy and lack of transparency and democracy which now afflicts the United Kingdom and the EU. He would like to see power restored to Parliament both here and in Europe with the reforms proposed by Libertas and now, in the light of recent events, in the UK.

He would especially like you to try the independent ‘votematch’ exercise which he believes will help voters to see how Libertas compares with the other parties and their own views.
http://www.votematch.co.uk/europe/

UKIPOCRISY

In a video sent around Europe today, Libertas exposes the hypocrisy of the UK Independence party.

www.libertas.eu/ukip

UKIP’s message of cleaning up Brussels is in direct contrast to how its members operate. Instead of fixing the problem, UKIP has become the problem. During the past European parliamentary term, a full quarter, 25%, of UKIP MEPs were either convicted of fraud, expelled for the same reason, or resigned in disgrace.

Nigel Farage can't stop the sleaze because he employs his wife, they refuse to publish even the most basic details of their expenses and UKIP has the laziest MEPs in Britain, attending just 60% of votes over the last five years.

DON'T judge UKIP on what they say but on HOW they behave. UKIP cannot change anything in Brussels - Libertas is the ONLY party that can change what is happening and stop the gravy train that is pouring out of Brussels. UKIP are NOT the answer, Libertas is.

www.libertas.eu/ukip