Woking Liberal DemocratsAnother week, another success for Lib Dems in the European Parliament. This week it was hammering the final nails into the coffin of mobile roaming charges in Europe. From the end of next year, the extra fees for using your mobile phone in another EU country - already reduced significantly in recent years - will be scrapped entirely.
It's another practical, common sense measure which means good news for consumers - despite resistance from the telecoms sector. It's also an example of what the EU does best: simplifying life
And it's got the Liberal trademark stamped all over it. It's the Dutch Liberal European Commissioner Neelie Kroes who has successfully driven the reform forward and seen it to fruition over the past four years. And Lib Dem MEPs have been at the forefront of getting the proposals agreed in the European Parliament.
The end of roaming charges is just part of a bigger reform of telecoms which also includes the crucial principle of net neutrality: an effective ban on blocking or slowing down of the internet. Kroes has made it a key aim of her term in office to protect internet freedom and the flourishing digital sector.
But where were the other parties in all this? You've guessed it: the Tories failed to back the reform and UKIP's MEPs voted against. That means they voted against lower phone bills and against internet freedom.
Let's make sure as many voters as possible know this before they go to the ballot box on 22 May!
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