Millennium3

This from their 1999 EU election manifesto:

The Liberal Party has a long history of support for European Unity. Unfortunately the European Union, we now see being constructed, is not the Liberal vision but a centralised and undemocratic super-state.

The corruption, fraud, and soaring personal and administrative expenses, together with the lack of adequate supervision of the commissioners (despite their forced resignation), are all symptomatic of an organisation deficient in democratically accountable structures

The weakness of the parliament allows our, and other governments', ministers to make decisions, hidden by or blamed on EU bureaucracy.

Making matters worse the Cons, Lab and Lib Dems, have all supported a new voting system which takes power away from the voters and puts it in the hands of the political parties.

We are alarmed at the prospect of a single European currency, which we believe to be undesirable and probably unworkable.

Unlike Cons, Lab and Lib Dems, the Liberal Party opposed the Maastricht Treaty and believes that withdrawal from the EU is preferable to the present illiberal structure. If elected, Liberal Party MEPs will promote the policies in this Manifesto and make the case for a different kind of European unity - a Commonwealth of Europe.

And a press release after the Lib/Dem conference:

LIBERALS CHALLENGE LIBDEMS ON A REFERENDUM AT LEADERSHIP HUSTINGS

Liberal members have been supporting a challenge to the LibDems to honour their manifesto promise to support a Referendum on the Lisbon EU Treaty.

At the LibDems Leadership hustings held in Leeds, Liberal Party President Councillor Steve Radford helped to distribute leaflets outside the hall where members were gathering. Steve Radford reports that "a libDem official stormed out of the building to demand I go away as I had no right to be there. At the same time many ordinary LibDem members agreed with me. Others appeared to be utterly confused what their party stood for. I was able to give a leaflet to Chris Hulme but Nick Clegg point blank refused to take one!"

"I repeat the challenge to both LibDem contenders would they lead their MP's to vote against a referendum on the treaty, despite promising to support one in their last manifesto?

Liberals will also be joining with other pro Referendum campaigners at LibDem husting meetings in Cardiff and Plymouth.


A Commonwealth of Europe is probably closer to the majority wish. [GlobalVision found that 25% wanted to leave, but 50% wanted to stay in, but cut political and economic ties]