Euro Adoption Meeting in Sheffield

Must get some kip in, am off to Sheffield tonight (Saturday) for the last of the regional adoption meetings for the European Elections in June.

The theme of my speech will be that we need to sell the benefits of Europe even more than we have been already.

"What has Europe done for us?"
1 The end of war between European nations
2 Democracy is now flourishing in 27 countries
3 Cheap travel and study programmes gives greater mobility for Europe's youth
4 The single market has brought cheap flights for all, and new prosperity for far-flung cities
5 Co-operation on crime, through Europol
6 No death penalty, it is incompatible with EU membership
7 Cleaner beaches and rivers throughout Europe
8 Greater protection for Europe's wildlife
9 The Regional development fund has aided the deprived parts of Britain
10 One currency from Bantry Bay to Bratislava, but not Britain

Icelandic general election

It seems that voters in Iceland have backed the left-wing coalition and strongly rejected Independent party that oversaw economic collapse.

The coalition is led by interim prime minister Johanna Sigurdardottir. She became her country's first woman PM on 1 February this year; she also became the world's first openly gay head of government.

The conservative Independence party had held a parliamentary majority for some 70 years. However, many blamed it for the country's economic troubles.

The win allows the government to push through a pro-EU agenda, and the majority of the coalition want Iceland to apply for EU membership, which would eventually allow the country to adopt the euro.

Good luck Iceland!