Who Are Those Lib Dem MEPs And Why Should You Vote For Them?

With the European Elections happening tomorrow, here's all you need to know about who Liberal Democrat MEPs are and why they are worthy of your vote.

1. George Lyon - Farmers' Champion

Via georgelyon.org.uk

Former farmer George has spoken up for Scotland's farmers and is well respected by them. It's got to be a good thing if the people who grow our food like him. If you eat, you need him in there.

He's also been influential on the Parliament's Budget Committee, helping to broker agreement across 27 nations to cut the budget by £30 billion. Someone with those skills is a definite benefit for Scotland.

2. Edward McMillan-Scott - Human Rights Leader

Edward only ever shuts up about human rights long enough to campaign against the farcical circus of sending our MEPs to Strasbourg once a month at massive cost. As a Vice President of the European Parliament, he's spoken up for human rights across the world and was actually in Tahrir Square in Cairo during the Arab Spring. He knows that jobs in his region, like those at the Siemens plant in Hull, depend on Britain being an active member of the EU.

3. Sarah Ludford - civil liberties champion

sarahludfordmep.org.uk

Sarah is Justice spokesperson and has been strongly in favour of the European Arrest Warrant which makes it easier to bring criminals to justice while strongly in favour of strengthening the rights of those arrested abroad. She spoke out against the use of anti-terror laws to detain David Miranda.

She also campaigns hard on environmental issues such as London's air and water quality and opposing airport expansion at both Heathrow and London City.

4. Phil Bennion - clean air champion and anti-bullying campaigner

Via philbennion.org

Transport Spokesman Phil won an award this year for his work in making sure that MOTs contained checks to ensure emissions were safe.

He has also campaigned for people with Autism to be protected from bullying.

5. Catherine Bearder - Action against trafficking and to protect the environment

Via bearder.eu

Catherine is a tireless campaigner against trafficking. She wants to end this modern day slavery and knows that this can only be done by working internationally.

She campaigns hard to protect the environment and knows that there's no point in isolating yourself in the battle against climate change - which has to be tackled by working with our EU partners.

6. Graham Watson - Delivering for his constituents at home and abroad

Via grahamwatsonmep.org

Graham's chief interest is foreign affairs and he's recently spoken out for stronger EU action over Ukraine. He keeps in touch with constituents by means of a weekly newsletter and spends a great deal of time helping his constituents:

"Thank you many times over. I now understand far better than I did the point of having a 'local champion' at a European Parliament. I wish you well with your career...and am grateful that you took the trouble to help us" said one grateful constituent.

7. Andew Duff - working to reform the EU

Via andrewduff.eu

Andrew thanks that Britain's attitude is part of the EU's problem - he wants to see deep, democratic reform to make the institutions more accountable to people.

8. Chris Davies - protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable fisheries

Via chrisdaviesmep.org.uk

Chris has worked to make sure that Europe's depleted fish stocks are being restored so we all have fish to eat for longer.

As a lifelong environmentalist, he's championed environmental technology and campaigned for European funds to be put into carbon capture and storage.

9. Bill Newton-Dunn: Making us safer by fighting organised crime

Via libdems.org.uk

Bill Newton Dunn has worked to thwart the organised criminal gangs who operate across borders.

He also sits on the Deveopment Committee, fighting global poverty.

10. Goodbye and thanks to...

Sharon Bowles, who's tackled economic matters and bankers bonuses and whose work is respected worldwide, Fiona Hall, who's secured investment for both businesses and universities in the north east region and Rebecca Taylor who has campaigned that e-cigarettes should be regulated in a sensible way as well as supporting environmentalists from Calder Valley who have complained to the EU commission and engaging young people in the work of the EU and the opportunities it gives to them.

11. New faces

Standing to replace the MEPs standing down are:

From Wales, farming expert Alec Dauncey, from the South East lawyer and civil liberties campaigner Antony Hook who specialises in tackling international crime and from the North East, Angelika Schneider whose priorities are protecting jobs and promoting tourism.

12. A record of action - a promise of more

These are just some of the things Liberal Democrat MEPs did this Parliament. If you agree that these are worthwhile, vote Liberal Democrats, Scottish Liberal Democrats or Welsh Liberal Democrats tomorrow.