Today
is 200 days until voters go to the polls for the 2014 European Parliament
elections.
These elections matter. We need to elect
more Labour MEPs across the UK to fight for a better deal for our regions and the
UK in these difficult times. Labour MEPs, led by Glenis Willmott, have done an
excellent job since 2009. The European Parliamentary Labour Party was reduced
in number at the 2009 elections – we lost a third of our MEPs – but has not
been reduced in its impact in Brussels.
Labour MEPs have led the campaign for a
European Youth Guarantee to tackle the youth jobs crisis and give hope to young
people across the EU. Our MEPs have been making the argument for a progressive
and fairer Europe, built on jobs and growth.
As we move towards next May’s elections we
need to be setting out the progressive case for Britain’s future in a reformed
Europe. We will not be arguing to defend the status quo in Europe. We accept
the EU needs to change, in response to the global challenges we face today but
also to better reflect our values and priorities.
The European Parliament elections next May
have an important political context for Labour. We should not overlook this. It
makes these European elections arguably more important than some previous
electoral cycles in Europe and it means we have to win well next year.
Momentum matters in politics. The European
elections next May will be held less than a year before the 2015 General
Election. The European elections are a key milestone on the journey towards
2015.
These are the first set of European
elections Labour has fought as the national opposition party since 1994. That
is a political generation ago. We all know what tends to happen to the vote
share of the governing party(ies) at European elections. We saw our vote
decline at each cycle of European elections after 1997; in 1999, 2004 and 2009.
We have to make sure next year’s elections inflict real and lasting damage on
the Conservatives and Lib Dems poll numbers, and that we take on UKIP. It is
crucial that we challenge UKIP’s arguments at every opportunity.
The results of these elections will, for a
period of time, help set the political landscape. This will be at an important
time in the electoral cycle. It is crucial that Labour does well on 22 May
2014. The results will be the subject of comment pieces and political punditry
as we approach next summer and the final party conference before 2015.
We need to win next May and win well. To
make sure we do well next May we have to set out and win the progressive
argument for Europe.
It is also important we make clear the
direct link between the argument on Europe and the everyday concerns of people
in our communities. Ed Miliband is setting the agenda on the living standards
debate and that has to be central to the campaign next May.
Our organisation will be key to securing a
good set of results next May. Thanks to Ian McNichol and his team we have
parliamentary candidates selected in key battleground seats and organisers in
place. This is a real advantage and 2014 has to be treated as an important
dress rehearsal and test for this organisational capability. This is
particularly the case for refining our GOTV operations and postal vote
campaigning.
We need to be working hard across the
country between now and next May. Campaign teams and European candidates are
already hard at work because these elections matter. These are not just
‘another’ set of European elections. I know we can do well next May. We can
strengthen our voice in Europe by electing more Labour MEPs across the country.
The campaign can be a real boost on our route map towards 2015.
With 200 days to go, let’s get to it.
Twitter @Rory_Palmer
Facebook www.facebook.com/RoryPalmerLabour
 |
| East Midlands European Candidates: Rory Palmer; Linda Woodings; Glenis Willmott MEP; Nicki Brooks; Khalid Hadadi. |
