Phil Bennion

Phillip Bennion MEP

"The EU must take a stronger lead on global issues, especially climate change, countering terrorism and reforming the rules of World trade."

Phil Bennion on an advisory visit to the European Parliament

A working farmer in Staffordshire and now the Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands region, Dr Phillip Bennion is one of the Liberal Democrats' leading agricultural and economic policy specialists with experience at European and global level. He has also been a grassroots campaigner both within the Lib Dems and other organisations with environmental and rural policy focus.

Phil was Charles Kennedy's agricultural affairs advisor and has also advised both Advantage West Midlands and the Government Office of the West Midlands on rural issues. He has worked closely with Lib Dem MEPs and MPs on farming and renewable energy.

Phil Bennion was born in Tamworth and attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. Phil went onto achieve a BSc and PhD in Agriculture from Aberdeen and Newcastle. Whilst running his farm in Staffordshire Phil studied for his 1st class degree in History and Economic History at Birmingham University.

Formerly a lecturer, Phil has run his family farm as a diversified rural enterprise with his wife Penny, including Environmental Stewardship, biomass crops and accommodation. Now that he has become an MEP he has contracted out day to day management of his farm but continues to live there.

Experience, Expertise & Action

In Europe...

• For some years Phil worked closely with Lib Dem MEPs on agricultural and renewable energy issues. Phil negotiated successfully to amend the new EU Rural Development Regulations on biomass, enlisting the help of MEPs from several countries.
• Has worked for an end to export subsidies worldwide for many years.
• Key member of European delegation in international agricultural commodity talks in the lead up to a conclusion of the 'Doha round' of international free trade talks.
• As MEP, Phil has a seat on the Employment and Social Affairs committee.

In Politics...

• Chairman of the LibDem European Group (LDEG). Phil founded and edits the innovative Eurofile magazine which reports on European news from a Liberal Democrat point of view with contributions from politicians and experts all over Europe and is published five times a year.
• A candidate in 4 General Elections and 3 European elections, Phil was elected to No 2 on the West Midlands list in 2009, taking a prominent role representing the team to business and the media. Under the terms of the party list electoral system chosen by the last UK government, Phil succeeded Liz Lynne as the Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands region after she stood down in February 2012 after more than 12 years in the job.
• As an active member of the Council of the ELDR, Phil takes on the crucial role of negotiating on behalf of the UK LibDems with sister parties in drafting motions at the ELDR Congress. (ELDR is the international European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party of which the Liberal Democrats are key members)
• Phil has been a member of the LibDem International Relations Committee formulating the approach to such issues as Israel/Palestine, Kosovo, Kashmir and Darfur. He will continue to prioritise justice and peace issues especially Kashmir as MEP.
• Member of Federal Policy Committee for 7 years. Worked up and convinced Vince Cable to support scrapping income tax on the first £10,000 as the top tax priority, a policy now being carried out by the UK coalition government.
• As a member of the Policy Working Group on Europe, Phil led on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and drafted the current Lib Dem policy on CAP reform. He also served on the Climate Change Working Group.
• Delegate for the Liberal Democrats at Liberal International Congress, speaking in debates on Belarus, Nuclear Power and the WTO talks and Africa.

As a Councillor...

• Councillor on Lichfield District Council from 1999 to 2011.
• Campaigned against the closure of overnight minor injury facilities at Sir Robert Peel Hospital.
• Campaigned against the closure of Post Offices in his area.
• Researched and campaigned successfully for a major increase in rural bus services in part of Staffordshire.

In Industry and Farming

• Has worked at European level in the NFU and in global trade talks.
• A former county chairman, Phil has been involved with the NFU at regional and national level for many years, chairing a national committee.
• PhD in agronomy and expert in biomass.
• Expert knowledge of Common Agricultural Policy and trade issues.