Thread by @SloughForEU

We are live tweeting from @BerkshireforEU's meeting of pro-EU MEP candidates this evening.
The panel is:
@catherinemep - Lib Dem
@JohnHowarth1958 - Labour
@Eleanor87014202 - Change UK
@EliseDB - Green
@Pacellitheukeu1 - UK EU party
Follow the hashtag #euDecideReading

Starting off with a look at recent polling and how the D'Hondt voting system works.
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First up is @catherinemep from @SELibDems
Talks about how the world is looking on, wondering what is going on, how our reputation is damaged.
Frustration from EU colleagues that there is no plan.
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The chaos created by the lack of a plan is what is opening the door for people like Farage.
The more Brexit Party MEPs you get in the EU, the less of a voice Britain will have there.
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A big driver for @catherinemep is the environment.
Climate Change, loss of biodiversity.
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Next up is @EliseDB from @SEGreenParty
She starts by taking about how many voters in Oxford she spoke to in the run up to the 2016 referendum.
How Greens were the first to have the idea of a people's vote and first to highlight detrimental effects of austerity.
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Serious work is needed to stop climate change - not just taking of economic systems.
Climate change is one of the things driving migration and displacement.
Standing together with greens in the EU, who realise the EU needs to change.
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The EU actions on the Paris climate agreement are more far reaching than any national government would have managed to achieve.
Say we can't continue with business as usual.
Yes to Europe, no to climate change.
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Greens are standing on a common manifesto with green parties across the EU.
A union that leads the world in protecting people and the planet.
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Next up is @JohnHowarth1958 from @SELabour
Talks about considering the values of the candidates and of the parties.
First point is tax justice - something that can only be dealt with through the EU parliament.
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A new settlement is needed between people, corporations and government.
Says that Labour is better able to deal with climate action as part of one of the largest groups in the European Parliament.
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Finally talks about managing migration into the EU - which is driven by climate change and conflicts.
Says that voting for Labour is the best way to stop Brexit.
Says that Labour is the only reason we are still in the EU at the moment
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Next is @Eleanor87014202 from @TIGSouthEast
Says that we have to remain at the top table where international decisions are being made - which means remaining in the EU.
Brexit battles that have absorbed the country have become very ugly.
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She doesn't think that the extremist arguments are what defines is as a country.
Talks of a new politics based on values and evidence. Every member of the party supports remaining and a people's vote.

Every European Parliament committee covers issues relevant to the South East of England.
Says that the important thing is to maximise the remainder vote later this week.
Suggests that a tactical vote may make sense of you are undecided.
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Says that her party could potentially support revoking Article 50 is this was necessary to create space for a People's Vote and prevent No Deal.
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Next is @Pacellitheukeu1 from @theukeuparty
Says it is important to stress the difference between the remain parties.
They were the first party to advocate revocation of Article 50.
Questions such as EU membership are to complex to be put to the public.
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The referendum was only a consultative event and not binding to parliament.
The nature of the leave campaign had anomalies, misleading statements & fraud.
This means the referendum does not need to be respected.
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Global Britain and giving the UK more power can only come through the EU.
Belief that EU needs to be reformed and that for greater transparency we need to charge the way that the EU works.
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Questions now.
@JohnHowarth1958 days that calling for a People's Vote straight after referendum was problematic. Antagonised those who voted leave.
Government didn't use their mandate sensibly though, but played to extremes, wrecking their chances of consensus.
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Wants to hold to account the people who promised fantasies like money for the NHS.
It's legitimate to go back to the people and doesn't go against democracy.
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@EliseDB says that we live in a broken electoral system. Referendums work if they are run properly.
We must never give in to poor democratic process or to Farage & his fascist friends.
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Says that if you talk to people they make better decisions and that is what democracy is about.
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@Eleanor87014202 says that the question on any new referendum is very different.
There are two democratic mandates (parliament and referendum) that have clashed.

@Pacellitheukeu1 says that democracy is important - but that referendums should not be binding to parliament.
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@catherinemep days that there were lies, misinformation & overspending that have still not been properly investigated.
People voted in angry way to give the government a kicking.
There is no good brexit.
The is no such thing as a soft Brexit - you are still out
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Ireland's referendum on the Good Friday agreement brought petite back together by making sure they were well informed before they voted.
Now we know what the something else (other than remain) looks like it should go back to the people.
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Next question is about how the pro remain parties can best counteract the Brexit party.
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@Eleanor87014202 says that the elections should be about maximising the remain vote.

@Pacellitheukeu1 says that in march this year they felt they could not rely on any other parties which was why they needed a new one that stood for revoking and remaining.
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@catherinemep says that D'Hondt is not a true proportional system.
STV would be better.
Suggest that voting for @LibDems is the best way to avoid splitting the vote and send the message to stop Brexit.
Says that the Brexit party is only scooping up Tory votes.
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@EliseDB says that D'Hondt benefits smaller parties more than FPTP does.
It's about different political platforms.
Hard to run on a joint list when parties have fundamental differences with each other on climate, freedom of movement etc.
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Points out that it is unclear where MEPs on a joint list would end up sitting in the European Parliament.
Says it's about who will represent what you believe in for the next 5 years in the EU Parliament.

@JohnHowarth1958 says that D'Hondt is a hard system to second guess or strategically vote on.
If Labour is weakened, he thinks it will weaken the case against Brexit.
Thinks turning it into a proxy referendum is a bad idea.
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Next question - unique selling points of each party.
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@Pacellitheukeu1 says that he adds diversity. The future of Britain is made from the immigrants.
Big difference is in his party's policy for revoke.
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@catherinemep says tray listening to @Pacellitheukeu1 reminds us how many in the country are left in limbo by Brexit & is angry how this country has tried to use people as bargaining chips.
On revocation - What started with the people has to end with the people.
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@Eleanor87014202 says that they are the one party where every member is in remain.
Not sure which group Change UK would join in the EU yet.

@EliseDB says that they're want to make sure companies don't get favourable tax treatment over people.
That the green movement is their focus.
Opposed TTIP while Lib Dems were in the secret talks.
A common manifesto across the EU.

@JohnHowarth1958 days that corporate tax avoidance is something his party is focusing on.
Funding for just transition - communities in carbon based jobs to move to the new economy.

Says that it is normal for Labour MPs to not fully respect their leader... 🙄
Talks about making sure a second vote is not seen as an insult to people.
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Next question - on EU copyright directive.
Lobbyists convincing MEPs to vote for things that harm our society.
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@JohnHowarth1958 says that he is proud to be the only one in the room who voted for the EU Copyright Directive.
Says that the content creators don't get paid - just Google and Facebook.
Says that it is about representing working people.
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@EliseDB says it hurts small creatives and benefits big companies. It's reliant on algorithms that can't differentiate between actual infringment and legitimate reuse.
Says that they will fight for regulations that work for ordinary people.
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@catherinemep says that at present content creation is a free for all. The first version was sent back. The cervine version was worked through across parties.
Abstained at end because there were some good bits, but parts that she could not support.
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And now how cross party cooperation is far more common in the EU than in the more confrontational Westminster parliament.
Difficult issues are often not black and white.
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@Eleanor87014202 days it highlights the importance of the EU parliament to deal with complex issues that so not respect international borders.
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@Pacellitheukeu1 says that there are competing interests. We have to strike a balance between consumers, the creative industries & the big corporations.
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And that's about it for the evening.
Brief summing up from @BerkshireforEU
Thanks everyone who helped organise this enjoyable and informative event.

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