The Liberal Democrats Carry the British Torch in Europe

8.30.00am GMT Tue 8th Dec 2009

Michel Barnier, the new EU Commissioner for the Internal Market

A number of concerns have recently been expressed over the appointment of Michel Barnier, the new EU Commissioner for the Internal Market.

Leading Tories have sought to generate fear that the new French Commissioner will shape future regulation that puts London at a disadvantage to other financial centres such as Paris.

First, fears have been exaggerated. There certainly exists a "healthy competition" between the French and British nations, but in fact this surfaces rarely in EU politics!

Second, thanks to the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Parliament will have an even greater legislative role and will act as a further check on any proposals.

Legislation which seriously damages one member state's interests does not come to be adopted because of mutual respect and a climate of cooperation.

Cameron and Co.'s effort to snub European leaders certainly poisons the atmosphere and does not help Britain's case, but the principle still stands.

However, the task of advancing Britain's interests will not be taken up by the Tories or UKIP. Tory MEPs were politically castrated when Cameron sought to appease the right wing of his party and leave the main centre right grouping in the European Parliament.

They now sit with a rag-tag bunch of extremists from Eastern Europe, with no allies from the mainstream.

Britain's torch will instead be carried by the Liberal Democrats.

Our group, which is far larger than the one in which the Conservatives sit, has partners in EU institutions and governments around Europe. Local MEP Sharon Bowles chairs the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and the Lib Dem Group also provide the Chairman of the Special Committee on how to get the EU out of the recession.

Whilst the Tories stand on the sidelines and shout, Liberal Democrats will be at the heart of the debate, making sure that legislation reins in excess and irresponsibility but does not adversely penalise Britain.

David Cameron and the Conservatives are irrelevant and feeble. Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats represent the change people want, and can achieve it.