Andrew Duff calls for more open and less insular debate

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 22nd Apr 2005

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat Euro MP for the East of England, has criticised the Tory and Labour parties in the region for "shirking open debate" in the election campaign. He also warned against the risk of insularity. "It is astonishing how little the real world has impinged on the British campaign. Britain can do little in the world without its European partners, and the nature of that partnership should be a key element of this campaign".

In a statement today, Andrew Duff said:

"In my campaign tour around the East of England I have found the Lib Dems in good heart everywhere. We are set to gain more votes, more MPs and more county councillors.

"Unfortunately many candidates from the other parties - especially former Tory MPs - seem to be fighting shy of debating the issues in public. They do a disservice to democracy if they shirk exposure before the electors. The Tory campaign is directed only to its own core supporters, and is failing to attract the rest of the public.

"Labour is conniving with the Tories in keeping the election agenda relentlessly domestic and somewhat petty. People are saying to us that they want to hear what we have to say about the war in Iraq and other international issues. The other parties continue to be frightened of their own shadows on Europe."

ENDS/…

Editors' Note: Andrew Duff MEP is helping the Lib Dem campaign across the East of England. He expects to have visited nearly all the 56 Westminster seats in his European constituency by 5 May.