EUROPE 2009: STRONGER TOGETHER POORER APART

Times are tough in Britain. The recession is hitting people and families hard: tens of thousands losing their jobs, businesses going to the wall, and every week hundreds losing their homes.

Labour's recession is hurting people badly.

:: Unemployment is rising every day

:: People are worried their businesses could go under

:: Every week people are losing their homes

:: Ministers are too busy fighting among themselves to govern properly

Launching, the Liberal Democrat manifesto, party leader Nick Clegg said: "We can only protect British families from crime, the recession and climate change if our country works with other EU countries.

"Criminals, business, climate change - these things cross borders. So the police, regulators, and environmental action have to cross borders too. It's the EU that makes this essential cooperation possible.

"Only the Liberal Democrats know how to provide security, jobs, and a clean environment by leading in the European Union.

"Liberal Democrats backed EU plans for the fast track extradition of thousands of criminals suspects across Europe - including 21/7 bomber Hussein Osman who was extradited in just three weeks from Rome. It would have taken months if UKIP and the Conservatives had succeeded in blocking these new rules.

"Liberal Democrats support EU police and judicial cooperation, which have achieved a huge amount in particular in relation to people trafficking and internet crime.

"One investigation known as Operation Koala managed to close down a website which contained 150 sexually explicit videos of underage girls and prosecute the people who ran it and its customers.

"Because the operators and users of this site were in a total of 28 different countries, it was only because of EU cooperation that the prosecution was swift and successful."

The Liberal Democrats will give people the help they need.

:: We will cut income tax bills by £700 for the vast majority of people, and close loopholes exploited by the wealthy

:: No one earning less than £10,000 will pay income tax at all

:: 20 hours of free, quality childcare a week from 18 months to five years old

Labour's arrogance has messed up Britain's relationship with other European countries

:: The Conservatives and UKIP think that on its own Britain can face the economic storm, climate change, international crime, people-trafficking and terrorism

:: Liberal Democrats know effective cooperation creates prosperity - more than 3 million jobs in the UK depend on trade with other EU countries.

Liberal Democrats are working with our European neighbours to protect Britain and catch terrorists and criminals who operate across national borders.

Liberal Democrats know that countries have to work together to tackle climate change.

To download a copy of our manifesto please visit http://www.libdems.org.uk/home/europe-2009-stronger-together-poorer-apart-255147569;show.

The Liberal Democrats European campaign website can be found at http://europe.libdems.org.uk/.