Reading Friends host talk on European elections
An 'information event' was hosted by Quakers in Reading
Reading Quakers held an ‘information event’ about the European elections this month. Jessica Metheringham, the outgoing parliamentary engagement officer at Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM), delivered a presentation at the event, which drew around twenty people.
John Crosfield, clerk of Reading Meeting, told the Friend that, while this was ‘not a great turn-out’, they ‘wanted to do something to try and inform as many people as possible. When people talk about the European parliament, on both sides, they usually do so from not a very high knowledge base.
‘The purpose was to inform Friends and others on how the European elections work and what the various parties or groups were and how they are aligned to the European parliament. The idea was not that people should be encouraged to vote in any particular direction but how their vote would affect any legislation that might come out.’
John Crosfield explained that they sent out questions to the eight parties relating to issues Quakers might be interested in to see ‘how each individual group would respond to Quaker concerns’.
So far they have received responses only from the Socialist Party of Great Britain; Alexandra Phillips, lead candidate for the Green Party; and Richard Ashworth, lead candidate of Change UK.
