LIB DEM LEADER IN EUROPE WRITES TO CAMERON OVER EPP PULL OUT

1.48.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Jun 2006

MOVE COULD HURT "UK PLC"

Local Lib Dem Euro MP and Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, Diana Wallis, has written to David Cameron asking him to rethink his decision to pull his party out of the European People's Party.

Ms Wallis has highlighted several areas where the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have represented several mutual British interests within their own groupings such as the Working Time Directive and reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. The Liberal Democrats believe an EPP without a British influence will fundamentally damage British influence in Europe, in effect damaging "UK PLC". In the letter Ms Wallis said:

" If you leave the EPP it will still remain the largest group, but without a British influence. Just take some time to consider what that might mean for future votes in the European Parliament. I can guarantee you that a free trade agenda in the EPP will be diminished as will any hope of ever getting the French and German delegations to back CAP reform.

"Whatever the Conservatives' commitment to these issues, I assure you they will be irrelevant if you pull out of the mainstream and join an insignificant grouping with those who are more concerned with bashing homosexuality than reforming Europe."