Help end the Euro-MP travelling circus

1.58.18pm GMT Wed 19th Jul 2006

London's Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford is today urging Londoners to add their name to the 'one seat' petition for the European Parliament, which is now only 180,000 signatures away from its one million target.

This petition organised by MEPs in the 'Campaign for Parliament Reform', calls for Euro-MPs to do all of their work in Brussels instead of being forced to make costly monthly trips to Strasbourg.

Sarah Ludford said:

"I am delighted by the weight of public support behind this issue. These wasteful treks to Strasbourg come at vast expense to the taxpayer and give the EU the kind of negative publicity that quite frankly it could do without."

"The European Parliament is the only parliament in the world that cannot decide where it should sit. We need to put our house in order and it is high time that member state governments, who make the decision, recognised that this anomaly must come to an end.

"This initiative is an excellent example of democracy in action and I hope that all my constituents will sign up to the petition and add their voices to end this travelling circus!"

Notes:

• To sign up please go to www.oneseat.eu