Sitting MEP Arlene McCarthy topped the list of selected
Labour candidates for the 2014 European Elections

The Labour Party has unveiled its candidates to fight the 2014 European Elections in the North West.

“We
have a brilliant team of Labour candidates who I know have the right
skills and experience to fight for the best deal for the North West,” enthuses Arlene McCarthy MEP, who was top of Labour North West’s list for 2014 European Parliament elections.

“The
North West is the most important export region outside of London and
the South East, our relationship with Europe matters. As Labour MEPs we
have kept our pledge to the people of the North West to use our
influence in Europe and our membership of the EU to deliver results for
our region.

“Jobs in our region are dependent on the EU. That’s
why it is important to get Labour MEPs elected. We will fight for jobs
and growth to boost the regional economy.

“Labours teams for the
2014 European elections will be listening to and working with people
and groups across the region to make sure we get the best deal from
Europe.”

The candidates are listed below. The election to the European Parliament is a list system. The Labour
Party ran a one member, one vote ballot of its members to determine the
order of candidates on the list. Over 10,000 Labour members who took
part in the North West. Nationally nearly 70,000 members took part in
the process.

Arlene McCarthy

Web: www.arlenemccarthy.labour.co.uk

Currently an MEP, as Vice Chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, Arlene was responsible for drafting and negotiating the new EU law on banker’s bonuses.

She is currently drafting the market abuse law and the new law on financial markets. Since becoming Vice Chair Arlene has earned herself a place in the top 100 influential women in European finance 2010, 2011 and 2012.

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Theresa Griffin 

Web: http://theresagriffin.eu

Theresa has worked to bring jobs and investment from Europe to the North West especially to the region’s most deprived communities since the mid 1990s. Working closely with the European Parliamentary Labour Party, she has also sought to promote the excellence of the North West throughout Europe and internationally.

Theresa is Vice Chair of the Regional Labour Party and represents the North West on the Labour Party’s National Policy Forum. Theresa lives in Liverpool and works for the public sector union, UNISON.

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Afzal Khan 

Web: http://afzalkhan.org.uk

Afzal is an executive councillor and former Lord Mayor of Manchester. He has campaigning experience across the region and a track record of taking on the far right, and helping to grow our economy. Afzal was awarded the CBE for services tocommunity and interfaith relations and local government.

“I left
school with no qualifications and worked as a labourer in a mill before
returning to education,” he says. “I then spent three years as a police officer
with Greater Manchester Police before going on to study law and
qualifying as a solicitor.

“I have always been actively involved in my community – as a school
and university governor, a trustee of several charities including the
British Red Cross and City in the Community, and through many other
organisations such as interfaith forums.”

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Julie Ward 

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Julie currently lives in the North Pennines and is the co-founder of a workers’ collective that has been providing creative services to the education, health and social care sectors for nearly three decades.

She worked in Manchester and Lancashire before becoming director of a disability organisation, serving Cumbriaand North East England and is a member of the Platform for Intercultural Europe and campaigns on issues such as One Billion Rising.

Wajid Khan

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Wajid is currently a councillor in Burnley, Lancashire. He also works as a senior university lecturer in Community Leadership. He has a national award in community and social cohesion.

Wajid has substantial experience of Europe and has served on the board of volonteurope and currently teaches about the European Union at the University of Central Lancashire.

Angeliki Stogia 

Web: www.angeliki4eu.org

Angeliki Stogia has ten years experience of delivering European funding for communities across the North West helping voluntary and community sector organisations benefit from vital EU investment.

Born in Greece, Angeliki moved to Manchester in 1995 where she also represents Whalley Range ward in Manchester City Council.

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Steve Carter

Web: http://steve-carter.co.uk

Steve Carter has extensive experienced campaigning on European issues. He is a Labour councillor and is currently working as a History teacher living in Cheshire.

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Pascale Lamb 

Web: http://pascalelamb.wordpress.com

Pascale currently works at the European Parliament on consumer protection and economic affairs.

She previously worked in financial services for two years after being a student at Manchester University.

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“I am proud that such strong, committed
and inspiring people have been picked by ordinary Labour Party members
to be their MEP candidates in the North West,” commented Harriet Harman MP. “Like the people
they seek to represent, they come from all walks of life and from all
the different communities who live here in the North West.

“Unlike
David Cameron whose first priority on Europe is appeasing the ever more
extreme demands of Tory backbenchers, Labour MEPs will be a powerful
One Nation voice who stand up for ordinary hardworking families.

“Their
top priority is to be a strong voice in the European Parliament to make
sure they get the best deal and bring jobs and growth here in the North
West.”