Your Party

Websites on Europe

From DavidH comes a great list of websites from/on/about Europe.

The European Parliament website. Also:

• the EP's english language home page
• the EP's public hearings
• the political groups in the EP (eg: Labour MEPs are affiliated with the Group of the Party of European Socialists [the PSE], etc.)

The Official portal of the EU. Also:

• the EU's latest news
• The Budget of the EU - a comprehensive description of EU budget: inputs/outputs and budgetary expenditure
• Official Journal publications
• Rapid database: search for EU institution press releases
• Midday express: daily press-releases from the EU institutions

Irish Presidency website

Think tanks and journals with articles on the EU:

• Centre for European Policy Studies
• European Policy Centre
• European Integration online Papers - has academic articles
• EU business online
• European Voice - EU news, printed newspaper available)
• EurActive.com - magazine on the EU with latest press releases and policy sections

The Kangaroo Group

EU funding opportunities

European training Institute - with articles and training on the EU

OEIL: European legislation tracking database

European Research papers archive - mostly academic articles

Institute for Security Studies - on EU defense and security policy and challenges

E-democracy at ConCon UK conference

ConCon UK was an ad-hoc UK revisit of Etech/ConCon, two US technology conferences earlier in Feb 2004. Unfortunately I arrived after the e-democracy bit, but here are the talks:

• Lee Bryant (of Headshift) gave an overview of the presentations at Etech's 'digital democracy teach-in'.
• And Tom Steinberg (of MySociety) dug in to the Howard Dean campaign to find out what went wrong, and what lessons we might learn - which is probably directly relevant for YP.

Survey: The European Union & The Party Constitution

Take our new survey and help to create the framework for the party's approach to Europe (Our surveys are hosted by YouGov, an online research and polling company).

Survey results: Hutton

Our Hutton Report survey asked for your reaction. These are the results (you can still still take the survey here):

Overall, do you think the Hutton Report was fair or unfair on the BBC?

• Fair 23.01%
• Unfair 73.86%
• Don't know 3.13%

Taken as a whole, do you accept or reject the findings of the Hutton Report on the behaviour of the BBC?

• Accept 33.67%
• Reject 61.48%
• Don't know 4.85%

Taken as a whole, do you accept or reject the findings of the Hutton Report on the behaviour of the government?

• Accept 16.79%
• Reject 77.95%
• Don't know 5.26%

If the Hutton Report is accepted in its entirety, do you think this will strengthen or weaken the BBC?

• Strengthen the BBC 14.22%
• Weaken the BBC 62.73%
• Neither 17.64%
• Don't know 5.41%

If the Hutton Report is accepted in its entirety, do you think this will strengthen or weaken trust in the British political system?

• Strengthen trust 8.52%
• Weaken trust 72.44%
• Neither 16.48%
• Don't know 2.56%

Survey results: UK, Europe and party membership

Our survey on UK, Europe and party membership asked for your attitudes on the EU. Here are the results so far (You can still take this survey here):

Which of these statements comes closest to your own views?

• The EU is going in the right direction and is good for Britain 8.51%
• The EU has its flaws, but it can be improved and Britain should remain a core member 66.94%
• The EU has serious flaws, and Britain should consider leaving unless it significantly improves in the next few years 17.86%
• The EU is wrong for Britain and we should be no part of it 5.18%
• Not sure 1.5%

Some people want the member countries of the EU to integrate more and more closely, others want it to become a looser but co-operative arrangement. Which of the following options do you prefer?

• Ever increasing integration of all members of the EU 39.39%
• The EU remaining pretty much as now 19.7%
• The EU continuing, but in a looser arrangement 34.85%
• Not sure 6.06%

Some have suggested a 'two tier Europe', with some members making an inner core which integrates faster, with an outer level which remains less integrated. Do you prefer the idea of a single tier of the EU, with all countries integrating at the same level, or a multi-level EU, with countries able to choose between being at the 'core' or at some less integrated level?

• All integrated at the same level 49.33%
• A multi-level EU 38.93%
• Not sure 11.74%

And if there were a multi-level EU, and Britain remains a member, would you prefer Britain to be:

• At the 'core' 66.44%
• On a less integrated level 24.11%
• Not sure 9.44%

When, if ever, do you think Britain should join the Euro?

• As soon as possible 22.54%
• When the economic conditions are right, and probably within the next three years or so 33.22%
• When the economic conditions are right, but probably NOT within the next three years or so 13.69%
• Not for at least 5 years 5.18%
• Never 17.86%
• Not sure 7.51%

We also asked how would you feel about being asked for the following as part of the membership registration process:

Your full name

• OK 92.87%
• Unhappy but would't stop me becoming a member 5.59%
• Would stop me becoming a member 0.77%
• Not sure 0.77%

Your full address

• OK 76.79%
• Unhappy but would't stop me becoming a member 19.15%
• Would stop me becoming a member 2.71%
• Not sure 1.35%

Your telephone number

• OK 46.50%
• Unhappy but would't stop me becoming a member 35.80%
• Would stop me becoming a member 12.65%
• Not sure 5.06%

Your email address

• OK 95.94%
• Unhappy but would't stop me becoming a member 2.32%
• Would stop me becoming a member 0.58%
• Not sure 1.16%

Your credit card details (for identification purposes only)

• OK 6.99%
• Unhappy but wouldn't stop me becoming a member 29.90%
• Would stop me becoming a member 51.46%
• Not sure 11.65%

Your passport number

• OK 29.13%
• Unhappy but wouldn't stop me becoming a member 22.91%
• Would stop me becoming a member 38.45%
• Not sure 9.51%

Your national insurance number

• OK 34.04%
• Unhappy but wouldn't stop me becoming a member 23.79%
• Would stop me becoming a member 32.88%
• Not sure 9.28%

Your driving licence number

• OK 33.66%
• Unhappy but wouldn't stop me becoming a member 22.63%
• Would stop me becoming a member 30.37%
• Not sure 13.35%

A small membership fee of, say, £5 (to be used exclusively for supporting Your Party candidates)

• OK 54.44%
• Unhappy but wouldn't stop me becoming a member 16.41%
• Would stop me becoming a member 19.69%
• Not sure 9.46%

We need volunteers

Interested in volunteering?

Please e-mail us at info@yourparty.org and tell us how you'd like to help. (There's a list of areas where help is needed at the bottom of this page.)

Interested in meeting fellow Your Party volunteers?

If you live in the London area then join us every Monday evening at Smiths of Smithfields (67-77 Charterhouse Street, Smithfield, map here) from 8.00pm to find out more about Your Party and how you can be involved (please email us if you're coming along so we can look out for you). If you live outside the London area but would like to host or attend such a meeting the please e-mail us at info@yourparty.org.

Interested in setting up and/or working for regional Your Party groups outside the London area?

We need to start building Your Party as a national organisation and are looking for individuals to build and/or work on Your Party in all the key regions of the country. If you'd like to help then please e-mail us on info@yourparty.org.

Interesting in joining the Your Party discussion group?

You can also join the Your Party People discussion group, which is hosted by Yahoo Groups. (If you have a Yahoo email address it's super-easy to join, if not you'll have to fill in a bit more info).

All people and ideas welcome, though please note we are not using this list in order to determine Your Party's position and policy on political issues.

Interested in how our first volunteers meeting went?

On 9th February we hosted our first volunteers meeting and were very encouraged by the number of attendees and their commitment to helping build Your Party. The meeting began with a brief presentation, followed by Q&A and one-on-one discussions. We now have active volunteers in a number of areas from technology to membership to campaigning. If you'd like to attend such a meeting then please e-mail us on info@yourparty.org

However, we have a huge amount of work to do and still need more volunteers in these and the other areas:

Campaigns
The party recently confirmed its decision to enter the European elections on June 10th 2004. We are looking for a Campaign Manager for the election and people to help with all aspects of campaigning.

Membership
The Membership Department will be responsible for growing the membership (and providing the members with support once they have joined the party). We are looking for people in all parts of the country to help with this work. If you're part of a network of any sort then we'd also love to hear from you.

Marketing and PR
The Marketing and PR team will work closely with the Campaigns and Membership teams to increase awareness, membership and votes. While coverage in the national media is vital, we also want to ensure that we cover local media and marketing opportunities.

Technical
The intelligent and user-friendly application of technology lies at the heart of Your Party. We need a wide range of technical skills to help implement this.

Fundraising
We need a Head of Fundraising as well fundraising assistance at every level. All and any help will be invaluable!

Editorial and Research
The editorial and research team will provide content and research for the site including discussions, voting processes and information on the candidates. We are also looking for moderators and experts in all key policy areas.

Legal
We need help with a number of areas - from drafting the constitution to ensuring that we are complying with all the relevant registration and legal requirements to running the party in the best possible way.

If you'd like to help us with any of the above - or indeed any other area - then please contact us at info@yourparty.org. All help will be enormously appreciated and we hope it will be prove to be an exciting opportunity for everyone!

Volunteer meeting, London, 9 Feb 2004

If you would like to volunteer to help - or you're simply interested in learning more about Your Party - then join us at our first Volunteers Meeting on the evening of Monday February 9th in Central London. Please e-mail Liz Morris at lizATmokita.co.uk for your invitation. If you'd like to attend such a meeting but can't make central London then please e-mail us with your details as we are aiming to set up a series of meetings around the country.

Survey: The Hutton report, BBC, and government

Hutton has reported. What do YOU think? Do you accept its main findings? Will acceptance of the Hutton Report strengthen or weaken the BBC? Will it strengthen or weaken trust in the British political system?