There are many things I expected of Libertas but recruiting a Lord before it has even launched wasn't one of them. Such is the draw of a positive, fresh force for change.
Lord Alton of Liverpool was today confirmed as a founding member of the Libertas group in the European Parliament.
From his website:"For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today is an Independent crossbench life Peer. He began his career as a teacher but, in 1972, he was elected to Liverpool City Council as Britain's youngest City Councillor. Twenty five years later, in 1997, David was made a Life Peer of the House of Lords"
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Another ex-Liberal Democrat of course. One of his major political stances was, as a "pro-life" campaigner who introduced a private member's bill limiting late term abortions.
One of the reasons people in Ireland voted no to Lisbon was their fear that the European Court of Justice would rule than the Irish ban on abortion was illegal. They had good reason to fear this.
The European Court of Human Rights has already ruled that Polish anti-abortion practises breach the "right to private and family life". The UN Human Rights Commission and Commission Against the Discrimination Against Women have also ruled against various anti-abortion laws and practices.
The Lisbon Treaty incorporates the Charter of Fundamental Rights into EU Law for the first time, and this charter contains the same right to private and family life that the ECHR ruled on. Britain and Poland have opt outs, but Ireland doesn't. It is only a matter of time before Irish abortion laws are brought before the ECJ.
I, personally, see no reason why the EU should be interfering in national laws on abortion. It's not an area where there is any significant benefit from Europe-wide harmonisation, so it is really just interference for the sake of it.
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