Meet the Liberal Democrat Candidates

Diana Wallis

Diana Wallis was re-elected to the European Parliament in June 2004. She is one of six Members of the European Parliament from the region of Yorkshire & the Humber but the only Liberal Democrat. She was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999.

On 18 January 2007, Diana was elected Vice President of the European Parliament. She is the first Liberal Democrat and the first British female of any political persuasion to be elected to such a post in twenty years.

Diana qualified as a solicitor in 1983, specialising in European commercial litigation. Her law studies took her to Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, which added to her interest in European issues and only heightened her desire to enter European politics. She is fluent in French and German.

Diana is the Liberals and Democrats group's spokesperson on the Legal Affairs committee and a substitute member of the Internal Market committee. Diana has been intrinsically involved in all aspects of her Committee's work and was described by the Law Society Gazette as 'the key architect of Europe's new legal landscape'.

As a full member of the Petitions Committee, Diana has successfully pushed for citizen-friendly improvements to EU legislation such as citizens' summaries for all EU legislative acts which are currently being implemented by the European Commission. As Rapporteur to the Committee of Inquiry into the Equitable Life affair, she authored a high-profile report which found a broad consensus in the Parliament.

Diana has played a key role in increasing international awareness of the impact of climate change in the Arctic.

Stewart Arnold

Stewart Arnold lives in the East Riding of Yorkshire. A former Chairman of the Campaign for Yorkshire he wants stronger voices being heard speaking up on behalf of this region. "I am disgusted that the way Yorkshire and the Humber continually misses out on investment. I am particularly angry the way Yorkshire and the Humber is set to miss out on an EU funding windfall because of a money grabbing decision by the Government.

After working for several years in business, Stewart was a Lecturer in International Marketing at the University of Hull's Business School, specialising in business transition in Central and Eastern Europe. He currently work as a Policy Adviser in the European Parliament and is completing a part-time Ph.D.

Rebecca Taylor

Rebecca Taylor was born and raised in Todmorden, West Yorkshire and went to University in Sheffield and Leeds.

Rebecca is a specialist in EU health and food policy and has worked for health professionals, patient groups and the pharmaceutical industry. "I am passionate about access to healthcare and I believe that EU cooperation in health has the potential to bring great benefits to the Yorkshire & Humber region."

Rebecca has been an active campaigner in this region and is concerned to see the links that British far right parties have with similar extremists in other parts of Europe. "I believe that fighting racism and extremism must be coordinated across Europe in order to be effective."

James Monaghan

James Monaghan lives in Leeds and is a city councillor for Headingley ward. A former climate change researcher and council lead member for environment, James is conscious that climate change cannot be address by any one nation on its own. "To tackle a global issue like climate change we need to work across national borders and the EU is leading the way in legislation to improve the global and Yorkshire & Humber environment".

After growing up in Wakefield, James moved to Leeds in 2001 to set-up a small software business. He still does some research part time, but spends the majority of his time representing the community of Headingley.

Nader Fekri

Nader Fekri is a History Lecturer by profession, at present teaching at the University of Bradford. He has worked for the British Council and the Soros Foundation teaching at universities in East and Central Europe. He is also a school governor and a magistrate.

Nader is a local councillor on Calderdale MBC where he is spokesperson on Regeneration and Development as well as on Green and Environmental issues. Whilst Mayor of Hebden Royd, Nader helped the town become only the second in Britain to become plastic-bag free.

Nader is an internationalist: "I believe in working together to reach common goals in the best interests of all our peoples. Whether it is tackling climate change, facing the economic storm, combating rising crime and the threat of terrorism, these are all best done with our friends in Europe. Isolation from Europe, like the Conservatives and UKIP want, would only make life harder for people in Britain."

Neil Poole

Neil Poole lives in North Lincolnshire running a family business with his wife Sharon. Neil is chairman of the North Lincolnshire Federation of Small Business and is also an elected member of North Lincolnshire Council.

Until starting his own business, Neil held positions at senior management levels within national companies. He has worked in a number of countries within the EU, marketing and servicing high-value agricultural and industrial machinery. Neil says: "Working together with other European countries will help Britain beat recession."