Sarah Ludford MEP News Stories (Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats)

Feb 16, 2012:
- MEPs vote for thrift and single seat
  London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the endorsement by a majority of MEPs for the European Parliament to end the 'travelling circus' to Strasbourg in favour of one permanent seat, which would be in Brussels. Voting on EU budget guidelines for 2013, MEPs also decided to freeze their own allowances until mid-2014 and cap their travel budget at its present level in line with their demand that all EU institutions cut their administrative spending. Sarah Ludford commented: "MEPs must tighten their own belts. But to ensure taxpayers are getting maximum value for money, we need an independent evaluation of the EU budget to point up scope for cuts." "MEPs have sent another strong protest about the pollution, cost and sheer folly of the European Parliament's split seat. The 1.3 million people who signed up to the OneSeat petition in 2007 have been ignored by EU governments, the only ones who can change things. But Europe's public today cannot be ignored against a backdrop of economic crisis and pressing environmental concerns." "With Denmark which currently holds the EU Presidency supportive of one Parliamentary seat in Brussels, I hope for some real movement on this issue." Notes to editors 1. The full report on the guidelines for the 2013 budget can be found here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0030&language=EN 2. MEPs cannot themselves decide where they meet. This is in the EU Treaty, which the 27 national governments decide on. Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- MEPs lead EU challenge to Hungarian democratic threat
  Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the adoption by the European Parliament today of a resolution condemning the controversial new Hungarian constitution. Sarah Ludford commented: "The European Commission and Hungary's fellow EU governments have been slow to act on the blatant erosion of civil liberties in Hungary taking place under Viktor Orban and his right-wing ruling party. They have twiddled their thumbs as Orban misused a two-thirds parliamentary majority in parliament to restrict dissenting journalism, suborn independent bodies and entrench discrimination and party hegemony through a highly partisan constitution." "This European Parliament vote has confirmed the determination by a majority of MEPs to fight violations by Member State governments of common European values of freedom and democracy and the corresponding commitments laid down in EU treaties. We will call the European Commission to account for its enforcement of those commitments." Notes to Editors You can see the resolution here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2012-0095&language=EN Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Feb 15, 2012:
- MEPs should tighten own belts
  London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford is calling for the European Parliament to freeze MEPs' allowances until the end of the legislature in 2014 as well as to seek freezes on travel costs and administrative spending in all EU institutions. Commenting ahead of tomorrow's vote in the European Parliament on the 'guidelines' for the EU's budget in 2013, Sarah Ludford commented: "At this time of national austerity, the EU's budget also needs to be shaken up to get rid of waste. MEPs must lead the way in tightening our own belts. Freezing our allowances and capping our travel budget at its present level is a good start." "There should also be a freeze in administrative spending of all EU institutions. An independent spring clean of the European Parliament's budget is greatly overdue." "The most obvious candidate for the chop is the £180 million on the MEP 'travelling circus' betweenBrusselsandStrasbourgin which the 27 governments have trapped us. MEPs should support an amendment for a single seat to send a strong message that national capitals must liberate us from this shameful and indefensible waste." Notes to Editors The full report on the guidelines for the 2013 budget can be found here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0030&language=EN Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Feb 13, 2012:
- Shaker Aamer decade of detention stains Obama record
  Commenting on tomorrow's 10-year anniversary of Shaker Aamer's detention without charge in Guantanamo, London MEP and vice-chair of the European Parliament's delegation to the US Sarah Ludford said: "The continued existence of Guantanamo is a stain on the record and reputation of President Obama, a lawyer whose attachment to human rights was celebrated early in his Presidency by the Nobel peace prize award. It is an outrage that my constituent Shaker Aamer remains incarcerated in Guantanamo and separated from his family in London a decade after he was sold by bounty-hunters and having been charged with no crime." "It is also an utter mystery why it is so hard to rectify this terrible injustice and breach of habeas corpus between 2 close allies who both pledge respect for the rule in their domestic law and international obligations. It is desperately hypocritical that these principles are repeatedly declared as shared in the Transatlantic Alliance while a man never charged let alone tried has been kept in solitary confinement and allegedly tortured with British collusion." "The European Commission and the US authorities are currently seeking MEP endorsement of an agreement whereby the US would receive the personal data of all US-bound European citizens. President Obama's failure to close Guantanamo as promised while entrenching indefinite internment in law strongly damages the trust necessary for such data-sharing projects." Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Feb 8, 2012:
- Making London citizens aware of 112 emergency number
  London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford is reminding people about the existence and importance of the European emergency number 112. 112 is the emergency number common to all 27 EU countries, including the UK, and can be used to connect to ambulance fire or police services. 74% of Europeans are still unaware of the number, despite the fact it has been in existence for more than 20 years. Saturday 11th February is European 112 Day, dedicated to raising awareness of the pan-European number. Sarah Ludford commented: "Every year more than 150 million people travel in the EU, and knowing this number when on business or holiday could mean the difference between life and death. While there are many varying emergency numbers, this is the only one that can be used free of charge in all member countries." Notes to Editors More information can be found here: www.112day.eu Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 27, 2012:
- Speaking up against hate best testament to Holocaust
  Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford attended an event in London to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as well as a ceremony in the European Parliament earlier in the week. She has signed the 'Speak up, Speak out' pledge against prejudice and discrimination. Sarah Ludford commented: "Today is principally about paying respects to the Holocaust victims, 6 million Jews as well as gay, Roma and disabled people who died at the hands of the Nazis." "But the 'never again' vow did not endure, so we also remember with shame the victims of later genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur." "The lesson we need to learn is that our voices can be powerful in stopping persecution, but only if we speak out firmly in protest, individually and collectively. Our best testament to the victims of hate is to refuse to tolerate its repetition." "I am a passionate believer that the EU, founded in reaction to the Nazi and Stalinist eras, is one of our best defences against human rights abuses. But we have to work hard on a daily basis to ensure that everyone lives free of fear whatever their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation." Notes to Editors More information about Holocaust Memorial Day can be found here: http://hmd.org.uk/about You can sign the 'Speak up, Speak out' pledge here: http://www.speakupnow.org.uk/ Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 26, 2012:
- Lib Dem action saving London Post Offices
  London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the news that post offices across London have been handed a lifeline thanks to the actions of Liberal Democrat business minister Ed Davey. Ed Davey has announced a 10-year deal between the Post Office and the Royal Mail guaranteeing that the Post Office continues to transact all Royal Mail services such as first and second class post, parcels, air mail, recorded and special deliveries. The deal adds to other recent developments boosting the Post Office network such as £1.4 billion extra government cash, new national and local government contracts, better local offices and improvements in financial services offered. Sarah Ludford commented: "More than 20 million people visit a Post Office every week either to post items, manage finances, renew passports or draw their pensions. It was shameful that over 7,000 - including my own local one - closed under Labour's thirteen-year rule." "Now that post offices have this additional security, I urge them to invest in modernisation such as extended opening hours. Even just staying open on Saturday afternoons would help, whereas full weekend opening would ensure that people busy in the week would still benefit from post office services."" Notes to Editors 1. Under the Labour Government, Post Office numbers fell by more than 7100, or 38 per cent. In March 2010, there were 11,905 post offices in theUK. In November 2010, the coalition government published its plans to secure the future of the Post Office. Post offices play a key role in their communities and that is why the Government has committed to maintain a network of at least 11,500 branches, building a long-term future for those branches. 2. Post Office Ltd remains in 100% public ownership. A new board has been appointed to oversee the Post Office as an independent business with certainty about its future. 3. Moya Greene, Royal Mail Group's Chief Executive, today warmly welcomed the new, commercial agreement between the Royal Mail Group and Post Office Ltd: "Royal Mail and the Post Office have reached an agreement that is in the best interests of our customers and both businesses. The Post Office will continue to benefit from the sale of stamps and other delivery services. For Royal Mail, the business retains the current, unrivalled, UK-wide, retail distribution network for its products and services aimed at consumers and small businesses. We look forward to a new chapter in our continuing, close relationship." 4. Paula Vennells, Managing Director of Post office Ltd, said: "This vital agreement, along with our ambitious plans for growth in government services, our branch investment and modernisation programme, and our development of digital services will all help to build a long term and sustainable Post Office." Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 20, 2012:
- Islington MEP visits local refugee centre
  Islington Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford today visited St Mary Magdalene Refugee centre in Islington to talk to refugee students about the work of the EU and the European Parliament. Sarah Ludford commented: "It was great to meet all the students who are benefitting from the centre's English classes. Learning the language makes it far easier for refugees to fit into society, and a group like this means that they can also develop a valuable social network." "The European Refugee Fund has helped to enable the St Mary centre as well as three others in the area to deliver language lessons and general educational support. It is fantastic to see EU funding having such a positive impact in Islington." Notes to editors More information about the Islington ESOL+ project can be found here: http://www.islington.gov.uk/careers/equalitydiversity/refugees_migrants/sesol.asp Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 19, 2012:
- Euro-MPs tighten e-waste rules
  Euro-MPs in Strasbourg will vote today to tighten EU rules tackling the growing mountain of hazardous electronic waste. The original EU legislation on waste electrical and electronic equipment (the 'WEEE' Directive) was negotiated by Liberal Democrat MEPs, who have now spearheaded stricter rules. TVs, mobile phones, computers and other electrical equipment are the UK's fastest growing waste stream, with more than one million tonnes generated annually. Despite the EU law already in place, only about one third of e-waste is currently disposed of in an accountable and sustainable way. The rest is either dumped in landfills or shipped - often illegally - to non-EU countries. According to the NGO the Environmental Investigation Agency, the UK has a persistent problem with e-waste trafficking with up to half of all discarded computers in the UK entering the illegal trade streams. London's Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said: "MEPs have fought hard to set a higher target for the recovery, recycling and re-use of e-waste. When treated properly our old electrical equipment needs not be rubbish but a valuable raw material." "The new rules will make clearer what used items can be legally exported. This will help to curb the criminals who ship electronic gadgets overseas where it is dismantled by children and the poor often in hazardous and toxic conditions. "We have responsibility to the environment and to the world to ensure that our waste must not become another country's or another person's poison." Note to editors To the Environmental Investigation Agency report on the UK's harmful trade in electronic waste can be seen here: http://ewasteguide.info/files/EIA_2011_UK.pdf Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 18, 2012:
- Gibson inquiry successor must be open and comprehensive
  Commenting on the termination of the Gibson inquiry into allegations of UK involvement in torture and rendition, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford, who was vice chair of the European Parliament's inquiry into European involvement on 'extraordinary rendition', said: "This is an unfortunate result of the need for criminal inquiries to continue. While it is good news that torture allegations are now being investigated by the Met, the blame for the inquiry delay lies squarely with the Labour government which covered up torture complicity claims instead of accounting for them." "However the work already done by the Gibson inquiry will feed in to the judge-led inquiry promised after the conclusion of police investigations. Not only must the Government be kept to this pledge, but when establishing a new inquiry they should also learn from the criticism that human rights NGOs had about the transparency of Gibson." "Any new inquiry needs to be as open as possible without compromising security. Those alleging collusion by M15 or M16 in torture should be allowed to question intelligence officials and be full participants in the process." Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- High Court judgement is right on protester eviction
  Commenting on the High Court decision to endorse the eviction of the Occupy London protest from outside St Paul's, London's Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, who is also the party's European justice & human rights spokeswoman, said: "This decision is the right one. Protests should not morph into tent cities. The right to protest is too precious to be undermined by long-term encampments which disrupt normal life to an unacceptable extent, beyond the inevitable and legitimate inconvenience of a one-off demo." "I'm very pleased that the coalition, at Liberal Democrat instigation, has delivered on its promise to restore the right to demonstrate in Parliament Square. It was an affront to democracy that the Labour government removed a right that is at the heart of our parliamentary system." "I hope that protesters will now leave peacefully and that we won't see violent evictions on the steps of St Paul's." Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- EU must get tough on food waste
  London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the call by the European Parliament for the European Commission to propose an EU plan to halve food waste by 2025. It is estimated that almost 50% of edible food gets wasted each year. The report on food wastage, being presented in Parliament today and voted on tomorrow, has recommendations on improving the efficiency of the food supply chain from the production stage to storage, processing, distribution, management and consumption. It advocates the introduction of food waste prevention targets for all EU states. Sarah Ludford commented: "The figures in the report are shocking. Almost 90 million tonnes of perfectly edible food gets wasted each year despite the fact that 70 million people in the EU live below the poverty line and 16 million people depend on charitable food handouts." "Parliament is rightly highlighting the urgent need for smarter decisions to be made not just by retailers and manufacturers, but also by consumers. Better purchasing, consumption and disposal will curb this wastage." "An EU strategy getting all states and suppliers on board is essential. There are many ideas worth pursuing, such as encouraging retailers to give food past its 'best before' to groups for the homeless etc - as some shops in the UK already do - and discounting food close to expiry dates." Notes to Editors The report can be seen here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2011-0430&language=EN&mode=XML Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 17, 2012:
- Qatada judgement teaches us useful lessons
  The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that theUK cannot deport extremist Islamic cleric Abu Qatada. Although it accepted the validity of diplomatic assurances fromJordanthat Abu Qatada would not face torture, it said evidence obtained from others under torture could be used to try him, thus jeopardising his right to a fair trial. Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford commented: "This ruling is clearly right on human rights grounds, because using evidence obtained through torture is a common practice in Jordan. But we should learn at least 2 lessons from this debacle." "The first is that if the West including theUKhad spent the decade after 9/11 promoting a worldwide end to torture instead of colluding with it, we might have been able to deport Abu Qatada now." "The second lesson is that the supposed interests of intelligence do not necessarily serve the interests of justice. If the ban on using intercept evidence did not exist, this dangerous man might have faced trial in theUK." Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- Outrage of EP honouring Francoist jointly with Havel
  Liberal Democrat European human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has criticised outgoing European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek for honouring Spanish Francoist politician Manual Fraga simultaneously with Czech statesman Vaclav Havel in a joint minute's silence. Sarah Ludford commented: "Havel's democratic and human rights credentials underpinned his whole life, while Fraga never renounced or apologised for the repressive standards of the Franco regime he served. Linking the two was a cheap trick, presumably to head off an MEPs' protest." "Buzek has done some good work as President, and it is a pity for him to go out on a sour note. But the suspicion that he orchestrated this twinning deliberately to please his political friends is confirmed by his airbrushing of Fraga's fascist past out of his tribute." "The EU was founded as a reaction to the horrors of dictatorship It is an insult not just to Havel's memory, but to that the millions of people who suffered and died at the hands of authoritarian regimes like Franco's." Notes to Editors The press release from the European Parliament can be seen here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20120116IPR35439/html/Opening-tributes-to-Gilles-Jacquier-Manuel-Fraga-Iribarne-and-V%C3%A1clav-Havel Some examples of Fragas's continued repressive views are at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fEaQWx2Pfw&feature=youtu.beand http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Fraga/afirma/habria/colgar/algun/sitio/nacionalistas/elpepuesp/20081211elpepunac_6/Tes Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 16, 2012:
- Breach of battery hen rules must attract tough sanctions
  London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed an assurance by the European Commission that EU states failing to comply with improved welfare rules for egg-laying hens will if necessary be taken to taken to the European court. Sarah Ludford commented: "This assurance is the result of intense political pressure by Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament. It would be intolerable ifUKegg producers investing in bigger and better cages suffered from illegal competitors undercutting their prices by persisting in poor welfare standards." "The Commission has rightly refused to postpone the legal deadline for the ban on battery cages. TheBrusselsauthorities must continue to back countries such as the UKwhich are striving to stop illegally produced eggs entering their markets. " "London consumers need to be confident that the eggs they are buying are from healthy and well kept hens. Food manufacturers and retailers must pledge not to use or sell 'cruelty eggs'." Notes to Editors An EU ban on battery cages came into effect on 1 January, with egg producers required to provide hens with larger and more comfortable cages which include nesting and scratching areas to allow more natural behaviour. But 13 EU Member States have failed to fully comply with this legislation. In December the UK Government announced the introduction of a voluntary agreement with the domestic egg industry that they would not sell or use battery farmed eggs. Sarah Ludford's press release on that announcement is here: http://sarahludfordmep.org.uk/en/article/2011/539479/tough-action-justified-to-bar-battery-eggs-from-london-shelves Defra has revealed that 30UKfarms are still using battery cages for up to 500,000 laying hens but the government expects full compliance with the new hen welfare law by February. Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 13, 2012:
- MEP supports UCL students in use of 'religious' cartoon
  University College London's Atheist, Secularist and Humanist society have started a petition defending their freedom of expression in response to the college student union asking them to remove from their Facebook ad for a pub social page a cartoon depicting Jesus and Mohammed. London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, who has signed the petition, commented: "As LibDem MEP for London active on civil liberties as well as equalities issues, I believe a clear distinction must be upheld between inciting religious hatred and causing offence." "There must be every right to practise one's religion, including wearing whatever one likes, but no right to be protected from perceived or even intended insults to that faith. Freedom of expression is a vital foundation of democracy but risks being jeopardised with petty censorship." Notes to Editors The story can be read here http://freethinker.co.uk/2012/01/11/london-university-demands-jesus-mos-removal-from-atheist-facebook-page/ Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
- UN body rules Sikh turban a human rights issue
  The UN Human Rights Committee has this week concluded that France violated the religious freedom of a French resident and Sikh Ranjit Singh by refusing to let him wear his turban for a photograph for a residence card. It has asked the French government to notify by March how it will remedy this human rights breach. Welcoming the ruling, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said: "It is shameful that Mr Singh's right to wear his turban was violated by the French authorities. Not only was his religious freedom violated but the denial of the residence card left him unable to access health care and benefits. This must be reversed and if it is not, the EU must get involved." "There was no security issue at stake. A turban does not obscure the face and if a person always wears a turban - or headscarf - then a picture of them wearing it is in fact a more reliable image. " "The hard line taken by France against head coverings worn for religious reasons is at odds with European values of freedom and pluralism. Respect for religious liberty should be hardwired into all EU states' national laws in implementation of the European Convention of Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights." "In the specific case of Sikhs, I have long fought for security measures in Europe such as at airport screening to respect the wearing of the turban and the kirpan by using modern and non-intrusive scanning methods." Notes to Editors You can see a press release about the judgement here: http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-12-01-2012-00.html Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 12, 2012:
- Investigation into torture collusion allegations must be stepped up
  Commenting on the conclusion by the Metropolitan Police and CPS that no MI5 or MI6 officers will be charged over torture collusion claims, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP who was vice chair of the European Parliament's inquiry into European involvement in 'extraordinary rendition' said: "This by no means ends the matter. That British officials helped to question prisoners before or after their torture was not in doubt and is confirmed by this statement. The further criminal investigation into renditions to Libya are welcome." "The barrier to prosecution in the Binyam Mohamed and Bagram cases is the absence of evidence of a quality to secure convictions. It is clear from the statement that the reason for that is the non-cooperation of the British intelligence and security services and the Americans." "This puts even more onus on Sir Peter Gibson's UK torture inquiry to establish and publish the full extent of UK involvement in extraordinary rendition and torture. The coalition government, which to its credit set up this inquiry after Labour's cover-up, must now ensure its credibility as a comprehensive, open and transparent investigation." "In the European Parliament I am working on a follow-up to our 2007 report on European countries' complicity in torture, secret prisons and extraordinary rendition. I am confident that the entire truth will eventually emerge, despite all the denials and obfuscations along the way." Notes to Editors The joint statement can be seen here: http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/press_statements/joint_statement_by_the_director_of_public_prosecutions_and_the_metropolitan_police_service/ Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 11, 2012:
- London residents need to be protected from credit website scams
  London MEP Sarah Ludford is calling for national action following an EU-wide investigation which found that 80% of British consumer credit websites fail to supply legally required consumer information. The 2011 EU Consumer Credit investigation into more than 500 websites has found that 70% (393) of sites lack at least some of the legally required information to help consumers make an informed decision. In the UK, 38 out of 47 (80%) checked websites revealed irregularities which will now be investigated further by the UK's Office of Fair Trading. Commenting after the publication of the initial findings, Sarah Ludford commented: "At a time when families are struggling and the effects of the credit crunch are being felt by many people in London, it is vitally important that the capital's consumers are well-informed when borrowing money through personal or car loans or credit cards, and protected against nasty shocks." "Finding out how much credit really costs is often complicated and misleading. So EU rules designed to help consumers compare credit offers and ensure they have full information are essential. It's shocking that four-fifths of the websites checked in the UK break those rules by hiding the annual percentage rate of charge or failing to explain the actual costs of a credit agreement." "The OFT must crack down hard on the scam operators and clean up this sector for the future. By the time they report back to the European Commission in autumn 2012, the rogue sites should have been closed down." Note to editors: In the 2011 'EU-sweep' of websites offering consumer credit, national enforcement authorities examined more than 500 websites offering consumer credit across the 27 Member States plus Norway and Iceland. They checked whether consumers were receiving the information to which they are entitled under EU consumer law before signing a consumer credit contract and in particular how business is applying the EU Consumer Credit Directive which aims to make it easier for consumers to understand and compare credit offers. Information on the findings can be seen here: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/6&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en Legal action can be taken by national authorities against operators who violate EU consumer law. For cross-border cases where the trader operates from another country, assistance can be requested from other Member States through the Consumer Protection Co-operation Network. Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Jan 10, 2012:
- Close Guantanamo and bring UK residents home
  Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford attended a rally on Saturday to protest against the continued Illegal detention of prisoners in Guantanamo, to mark tomorrow's tenth anniversary of the camp's opening. Sarah Ludford, who was the European Parliament's rapporteur on Guantanamo from 2003 and is vice chair of the European Parliament delegation to the US, commented: "It is a huge blot on the moral reputation of the United States that the legal black hole of Guantanamo remains, and deeply disappointing that President Obama has broken his promise to close it. The self-inflicted wounds of the gross human rights abuses carried out through the 'war on terror' cannot heal until there is a full return to justice and the rule of law." "It is shameful that European countries were complicit in this US lawlessness including torture and secret prisons. Their ability to press for an end to illegal internment has been inhibited by their failure to bring transgressors to account and half-hearted cooperation in resettlement." "I call on the Foreign Secretary to secure the immediate return to his wife and young family in Battersea of legal UK resident Shaker Aamer who was cleared for release in 2007. If the much-vaunted 'special relationship' means anything, it means the ability to get tough with US breaches of due process. In addition, Ahmed Belbacha must also be allowed to resume his UK residence." "We must not forget that thousands of other prisoners are being similarly detained without charge in places like Bagram. The UK government must comply with the Court of Appeal order to get the release of Bagram detainee Yunus Rahmatallah whom British forces in Iraq disgracefully handed over to the Americans 6 years ago." Notes to Editors The weekend rally, 'Shut Guantanamo-End Ten Years of Shame Rally' was organized by the following groups: The London Guantánamo Campaign http://londonguantanamocampaign.blogspot.com/ Save Shaker Aamer Campaign: http://saveshaker.org/ Stop the War Coalition: http://stopwar.org.uk/ Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament: http://cnduk.org/ Published and promoted by Ashley Lumsden on behalf of Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and the Liberal Democrats, all at 8-10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

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