By Greg Heffer, political reporter in Bournemouth <\/p>\n
Political party conferences are best known for seaside resorts, slightly dodgy canapes and warm white wine- but what are the chances of finding love?<\/p>\n
In one of the more unusual events on offer at the Liberal Democrats' gathering in Bournemouth this week was a chance to go speed-dating with the party's newly installed 16 MEPs.<\/p>\n
So, perhaps taking the romantic theme of the event a little too seriously, Sky News went along to discover how these EU politicians - in two minutes - would sell themselves to a prospective partner... especially if they were on the other side of the Brexit divide.<\/p>\n
Here's what they said:<\/p>\n
Irina Von Wieise, MEP for London who sits on the European Parliament's foreign affairs and civil liberties committees<\/p>\n
If you were to meet a Brexiteer - and went on an actual date - what would your best chat-up line be to convince them to support staying in the EU?<\/p>\n
\"I would say the words 'Brexit dividend' to you.<\/p>\n
\"We'll give the money that we save from cancelling Brexit to those communities that have suffered the most under Tory austerity.<\/p>\n
I would look into your eyes and I would want to keep fishing until I found a plaice in your heart! Chris Davies MEP <\/p>\n
\"Those are the people that were most likely to vote Leave; they were totally disenfranchised.<\/p>\n
\"We need to address those issues: that's what I do say to many Leave voters. We need to address their problems.\"<\/p>\n
Would someone's support for Brexit be a deal breaker on a date?<\/p>\n
\"We are liberals so there is no deal breaker! Some of my friends voted Leave and I completely respect that.<\/p>\n
\"We may have robust debates like any relationshipbut then we would kiss and make up!\"<\/p>\n
Chris Davies - North West England MEP and chair of the European Parliament's fisheries committee<\/p>\n
Best chat-up line?<\/p>\n
\"I would look into your eyes and I would want to keep fishing until I found a plaice in your heart!\"<\/p>\n
Jane Brophy - North West England MEP who sits on the European Parliament's employment and social affairs committee<\/p>\n
Best chat-up line?<\/p>\n
\"I probably wouldn't go there to start with!<\/p>\n
\"As someone who has worked for the NHS I would ask instead what other politics do you care about, such as health?<\/p>\n
\"Or maybe just talk about hobbies such as travel.\"<\/p>\n
Would it be a dealbreaker?<\/p>\n
\"Yes!\"<\/p>\n
Catherine Bearder, South East England MEP and leader of the Lib Dems in the European Parliament<\/p>\n
Best chat-up line?<\/p>\n
\"I would ask what it is you didn't like about the EU? Why did you vote for Brexit - was it migration? Do you think the EU's anti-democratic?<\/p>\n
\"People voted Leave for all sorts of reasons.<\/p>\n
\"For example, my son's best friend lived in Germany for seven years and he voted for Brexit just because he wanted to give the government a kicking.<\/p>\n
\"I've got an answer for everything.<\/p>\n
\"We need to reach out and find out why people voted for Brexit.<\/p>\n
\"We have the best deal of all the countries in the EU. For example, we are not in the euro, we are outside Schengen.<\/p>\n
\"No deal is going to be as good as that.\"<\/p>\n
Would it be a deal breaker?<\/p>\n
\"Absolutely! We would probably have such different philosophical views.\"<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read the rest here:<\/p>\n
What happens when you go speed dating with Liberal Democrats? - Sky News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Greg Heffer, political reporter in Bournemouth Political party conferences are best known for seaside resorts, slightly dodgy canapes and warm white wine- but what are the chances of finding love? In one of the more unusual events on offer at the Liberal Democrats' gathering in Bournemouth this week was a chance to go speed-dating with the party's newly installed 16 MEPs. So, perhaps taking the romantic theme of the event a little too seriously, Sky News went along to discover how these EU politicians - in two minutes - would sell themselves to a prospective partner.. Continue reading