CONSERVATIVES 776,370 35.2% (-9.3%) 4 MEPs
UKIP 431,111 19.5% (+ 9.3%) 2 MEPs
LIB DEMS 338,342 15.3% (same as 1999) 2 MEPs
LABOUR 301,398 13.7% (-6%) 1 MEP
GREEN 173,351 7.9% (+.4%) 1 MEP
BNP 64,877 2.9% (+ 2.1%)  

Regional Turn out 36.5% - Rother District Turnout 42.2%

Elections to the European Parliament will next take place in 2009

Since Chris Huhne was elected to Westminster in May 2005, Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats have been represented in the European Parliament by Baroness Emma Nicholson and Sharon Bowles who continue to work hard for the South East and have a real impact in the European Union.

Emma Nicholson was awarded "MEP of the year" by more than 20,000 people across 72 countries. This "European Voice" award was in recognition of her international human rights work and for highlighting the plight of Afghan and Iraqi refugees.

 

Sharon Bowles is a Chartered Patent Attorney, Registered Trade Mark Agent, European Patent Attorney and a Professional Representative before the Office for Harmonization of the Single Market (European Trade Mark and Designs Office)

After training for professional qualification with leading London firms, she established a new professional practice in 1981, now the Bowles Horton partnership. She has drafted and prosecuted patents for leading edge companies over a wide range of technical fields including integrated circuit design and production, internet technology, satellite equipment, telecommunications, optical fibre technology, fermentation measurement, aerodynamics and hydrocarbon extraction.

 

Links: - http://www.emmanicholson.org.uk - http://www.sharonbowles.org.uk

 

All our MEPs have an excellent voting record. An analysis of voting records on EU GREEN legislation (where 90% of all Britain’s environment law starts) shows that five MEPs voted against every single environment improvement proposed and 10 voted against 90% of proposals. Eleven of these MEPs are Conservatives. Three are UKIP.

Liberal Democrats put the environment first. Global Warming can only be tackled by Europe. Pollution does not respect borders. Most of our legislation to protect the environment; recycling, disposal of fridges and cars, air transport pollution, food safety, water quality and the use of chemicals has resulted from European directives.
MEP Emma Nicholson has a better voting record on environmental issues than the South East's Green Party MEP !

LibDems want to ensure value for money in Europe and make its institutions more open and accountable. Our MEPs have promised to:

Root out fraud and unnecessary red tape

Make the council of Ministers pass laws in public and not in secret

Make UK Ministers more accountable to the UK Parliament for their approach in Europe

MAKING THE EU BETTER
In 2006 MEP Chris Davies, leader of the Liberal Democrats European Parliamentary Party prepared a discussion paper for consultation purposes with a view to producing a definitive and collective set of proposals later in the year.
Under the headings, Sound Financial Management, More Open, More Democratic, More Accountable, Combating Centralisation, Strengthening, Addressing Parliamentary Faults, cutting Costs, Better Implementation of EU Laws, and A Europe of Values and Principles this document addresses public criticisms of the EU, identifies how far they have a basis in fact and puts forward proposals for practical reforms which can be achieved without treaty changes.

This document also states clearly why Liberal Democrats are the strongest and most longstanding supporters of British membership of the EU.
They believe it is a Force for Good because

It provides the world's greatest single market - creating new business opportunities, reducing prices and providing a more level playing field for competition between enterprizes across Europe

It settles disputes between member states by peaceful means

It gives its members more powerful collective influence in international negotiations

It enables the development of a common approach towards tackling environmental problems which is relatively free from fears that the imposition of higher standards may lead to a loss of competitive advantage

It seeks to find shared solutions to common problems such as economic migration and organised crime

It extends the frontiers of every citizen, creating a common European home through the lifting of restrictions to residence and labour mobility and the introduction of rights that apply to EU citizens everywhere

It protects and promotes values and principles that, from a UK perspective, can be regarded not only as liberal and democratic but also as "British".