http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from South West Liberal Democrats en-GB South West Liberal Democrats http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 South West Liberal Democrats 2010-03-10T20:57+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000169/welcome_cut_to_red_tape_for_britains_small_businesses.html Graham Watson Liberal Democrat MEP, has welcomed today's European Parliament vote in favour of exempting struggling small businesses from producing onerous annual accounts. 2010-03-10T15:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000168/graham_takes_cornish_pasties_to_the_european_parliament.html Graham Watson, Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South West of England, has taken genuine Cornish pasties to his colleagues in the European Parliament in Brussels. It is a great show of support for the Cornish Pasty Association (CPA) which is currently waiting for the European Commission to grant final approval for the PGI status for the Cornish delicacy. 2010-03-05T12:45+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000167/south_west_to_debate_european_agriculture_rules.html The South West will have an opportunity to voice its opinions on the future of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on Friday (5 March), at a special event being held at Bicton College in East Devon. 2010-03-02T13:33+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000166/farage_from_stamping_his_feet_to_thumbing_his_nose__watson.html Graham Watson MEP has slammed anti-European MEP Nigel Farage for his refusal to apologise for insulting Herman Van Rompuy and the Belgian people. 2010-03-02T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000165/ukip_disgrace_britains_proud_reputation.html In a week that has seen the issue of bullying feature high on the British media's agenda, the European Parliament yesterday witnessed its own shocking bout of childish, playground name-calling. 2010-02-25T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000164/end_in_sight_for_horse_deathmarches.html Horse welfare campaigners are celebrating a last-minute-winner in the battle to gain EU protection for horses transported across Europe for slaughter. 2010-02-19T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000163/liberals_are_leading_lights_in_new_european_commission.html After a long and comprehensive "interrogation" by MEPs, the new European Commission (2010-14) has now secured the necessary approval to take office - and Liberals hold key positions. 2010-02-09T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000162/meps_tribute_to_leading_local_liberal_democrat.html Graham Watson MEP today paid tribute to leading Liberal Democrat Sir Chris Clarke OBE, who died on 15 December 2009. Speaking at the memorial service held today at Wells Cathedral, Watson said; 2010-02-05T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000160/watson_celebrates_victory_for_equal_rights_in_france.html South West Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson is celebrating a hard won victory in the battle to secure equal rights for same sex British couples living in France. 2010-02-03T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000159/watson_calls_for_urgent_action_on_hungarian_detainees.html Speaking in a debate on an Oral Question secured by the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament last night, Graham Watson MEP said: 2010-01-20T10:03+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000158/better_internet_for_winterbourne_stoke_and_surrounding_villages.html Local Councillors and residents from Winterbourne Stoke will this week submit plans to the South West Regional Development Agency that could see the village and surrounding area get access to internet speeds sixty times faster than existing average speeds. 2010-01-14T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000157/keep_the_noise_down.html As a member of the European Parliament I was interested to see the work of Bristol City Council in involving residents in the implementation of the EU noise directive, through the EU funded Citizenscape project. 2010-01-11T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000156/uyghurs_must_have_fair_trial.html Statement by Graham Watson MEP on the extradition of twenty Uyghurs from Cambodia to China and their need for a fair trial 2010-01-07T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000154/victory_newt_protection_for_holnest_after_6_year_battle.html Great Crested Newts in Dorset can hibernate in peace this Christmas, after the EU declared 54 hectares of grassland and ponds in Holnest to be a "Special Area of Conservation", offering protection to the endangered species. 2009-12-21T00:00+00:00 http://www.swlibdemteam4europe.org.uk/news/000153/allotments_can_boost_farmers_income_and_promote_the_good_life.html The European Commission is being called upon to support the conversion of farmland to allotments, which can boost the income of farmers, bring health benefits to consumers and protect the environment. 2009-12-21T00:00+00:00