Alan Butt Philip's speech to the Welsh Liberal Democrat Conference

Speech by Dr Alan Butt Philip on Sat 11th Oct 2008

Anwyl gyfeillion, yn yr etholidau Ewropeaidd yn y blwyddyn nesaf rydyn ni cael cyfle bwysig. We have a major opportunity in next year's European elections that presents a challenge to all of us. I am asking you to help me provide the last piece of the jigsaw and so complete the map of Britain where every part has a Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament. Today only Wales does not have its own Lib Dem MEP - we have to put this right.

Victory would give our party in Wales extra credibility and resources, influence in the European Parliament for the first time, and the ability to represent our values and needs at ever level of government. This will help our Lib Dem councillors, our Assembly Members and our Members of Parliament.

This is a challenge where every one, and every constituency party can make its contribution. In a PR election every vote for our party counts, whether it is cast in Aberconwy or Aberystwyth or Aberafan. Every constituency can play a part - by bringing out to vote our supporters in a target ward or target seat. The 2009 Euro-elections should be seen as another stage in the long march of Liberal Democracy to success in Wales.

Based on the last European election results, we need a swing from Labour of just 4%. If you use the Assembly or council election results, it's even less than that. So when people ask me, "Can we win?" I say yes. I know we can win, because in many wards at the last council elections, we did much, much more than that.

They say that next year's Euro election will be a low turnout election. Very possibly. What we have to do is to ensure a high turnout of our party's supporters. We have to give them a reason to vote Liberal Democrat this time too.

We are a European and an internationalist party or we are nothing. Clement Davies, Welsh Liberal leader in the 1940s and 1950s showed the way. Plaid might wish to take this nation into the status of a greater Iceland but, as we have seen this week, there are big risks in going it alone.

The Liberal Democrats, and Liberals before them, are the only consistently pro-European party favouring European integration. Labour cannot claim this; nor can the Tories; nor can Plaid Cymru.

We are serious about Europe.

On many of the great issues of today it is action at European Union level that is demanded, when nation states acting on their own prove weak or powerless. We need EU action to mitigate and reduce the effects of climate change. We need EU action to guarantee security of food supplies in [the] future. We could have done with effective EU action in managing the financial crisis these last few weeks, and it is still desperately needed.

Of course we can see the defects of the European Union - and we are committed to putting these right. We need more transparency - less bureaucracy - less centralism. We have never been a centralising party. We don't want it in Cardiff; we don't want it in Westminster; and we don't want it in Brussels either.

So the EU must concentrate its activities, attempt less but achieve more in its areas of greatest strength. In some things we are going to need more Europe, not less.

We must challenge Labour for its lukewarm attitude to the EU which has cost Wales dearly. On the really big issues Brown and Blair have been happy to side with George Bush and split Europe in the process - the Iraq war is the prime example. This has got to stop - we know former Labour voters in Wales want this, and are ready to desert their party in droves. The evidence is there from the recent local council elections; from Swansea, Cardiff and Merthyr to Wrexham and Flintshire in the north.

Labour's retreat is in full flow. The last time so much clear red water retreated this fast, Moses was able to lead his people to the promised land. Next year we can do the same.

But we must not take our eye off the Tories. Remember without Tory support Labour could never have taken us into the Iraq war. Remember that on matters European, the Tories are wide open to attack.

First example is environmental policy. We need the European Union to lead the world on this, as it did at Kyoto. The planet cannot wait for the USA to come on board. But the Tories want a weaker EU, just when we need a stronger EU to organise reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and greater use of renewables.

Secondly, David Cameron is hell bent on taking Tory MEPs out of the moderate pro-European CD group in the European Parliament - into political oblivion, or to make alliances with the ultra-nationalist extreme right. Did you know that in the council of Europe the Tories have teamed up with the United Russia Party - they have joined Vladimir Putin's fan club. Either the vodka and caviar have gone to their heads - or the Tories need a new dating agency! Seriously, you can judge a political party by the company it keeps. In the Tory case they have joined up with Putin's nationalist authoritarian, centralising, antidemocratic friends. The people of Wales must no be fooled. Underneath the velvet glove of Mr Cameron there hides the mailed fist of rampant Toryism.

So fellow Liberal Democrats the Euro-elections are an opportunity and a challenge for us. The votes will be counted by constituency so we cannot hide from the results! These elections should be seen as a springboard for the coming general election. I ask you now to put the last piece of that jigsaw into the political map of Britain. Put Wales onto the map of Europe again. Go out into the streets and valleys and villages, towns and cities of Wales. We have an important message to deliver. Passion. Conviction. Consistency. Integrity. We are serious about Europe and this time we can win. Diolch Yn Fawr