About Jonathan

Jonathan is a freelance writer, lecturer and broadcaster on international affairs. For seven years, he was based in Brussels, initially for Reuters, and now writes mainly for the BBC and The Guardian. He has written a dozen non-fiction books, including volumes on Brussels and London. He also lectures part-time at London University's School of Oriental and African Studies.

He first joined the Liberal Party after Jo Grimond came to speak at his school. He has been active in Lib-Dem politics for many years and is now Vice-Chairman of London Region Lib-Dems. He has at times served on the Federal Policy Committee and chaired a couple of party policy working groups. He is currently a member of the Lib-Dems' International Relations Committee, Chairman of Liberal International British Group and an elected member of the European Liberal (ELDR) governing Council.

Jonathan has served as a London Borough Councillor (in Bromley) and fought three parliamentary elections. But the European Parliament has always been his ultimate goal. He has been fighting Euro-campaigns ever since the first direct elections to the European Parliament were held, and in 2004, came within a whisker of becoming an MEP for London. He's determined to make it this time!

Hustings

The London-wide hustings were held in Bethnal Green on 6th October. Jonathan made the following closing statement:

"This is the sixth time I've stood for the European Parliament. It's a job I really, really want. I've long followed European affairs as an outsider, as a journalist. Now, the opportunity may come for me to be an insider!

"That's up to you and the other 6,000 eligible Lib-Dem members in London. So why me? I care about London. I care about Europe. And I have been a Liberal - now Liberal Democrat - since the day Jo Grimond came to speak to my school.

"Our party is rightly pro-European, though not uncritically. And we understand that issues like the environment, overseas development and civil liberties need action on a European level. I want to be there, as Europe moves forward. With your help, this time, I can make it."