By, Anonymous
2 min read
ByAnonymous, Anonymous
To Mike Freer (Conservative):
Given your Euro-sceptic stance, how will you ensure Britain maintains good relations with her European counterparts whilst affiliating with, in some cases, extremist anti-European parties in the EU Parliament?
The question starts from a false premise. The Conservative Party withdrew from the EPP, as that grouping supported a federal state of Europe. Our partners support the European ideal of partners working together to improve our economies and co-operating on common issues.
Our partners in Europe are not extremist. Our partners in Europe are all the parties of government or the main opposition parties in their own countries. The Conservative Party believes Britain's best interests are served by membership of an EU that is an association of member states. We will work to protect and restore British interests where they have been eroded.
Our economic influence (when our economy recovers), the importance of the City as the financial centre of the world and our standing in international foreign affairs will deliver influence, not where we sit in the chamber at Brussels.
To Laura Edge (Lib Dem):
High-ranking representatives of your party have voiced strong anti-Israel sentiments. If you were an MP, how would you respond to the allegations made?
Obviously there has been controversy over statements made by Baroness Tonge regarding Israel and, quite rightly, she lost her front-bench position in the Lords as a result of her stupid and crass remarks in relation to the IDF in Haiti.
The vast majority of Liberal Democrats are critical friends to Israel, not anti-Israeli.The Liberal Democrats have criticised Israel, as have many Israelis, for some of its actions, such as the failure to freeze the construction of new Jewish homes in East Jerusalem, and I believe that it is right to do so where such actions are not in the long-term interests of peace and security. But we recognise that it is not only the Israeli government that must be criticised for the failure to find peace, and that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority too must bear considerable responsibility.
To Alison Moore (Labour):
A lot of people my age are worried about their job prospects, given the statistics regarding youth unemployment. How can you ensure that there will be jobs available for graduates?
"I graduated in the early 1980s. Finding a job in the recessions of the 1980s and 1990s was tough and I can understand why young people are concerned now.
"I believe that the best way to ensure that there are jobs for graduates is to drive the economic recovery, to invest in jobs across the board and to protect public sector services. To do that we need to halve the deficit over a sensible time frame.
"As a former research scientist, I back our proposed ring-fencing of a science budget that will help ensure that we really do turn world-leading research into productive technologies. A diverse and growing economy, supported by a strong education sector, will ensure that there are good jobs for graduates here in Britain."