The European elections: our party's next big challenge

Election campaigning is a bit like painting the Forth bridge: once you've finished one campaign you have to start all over again. The election cycle is such that there is rarely a moment to take stock. And now the party must look ahead to the European elections in 2009.

After our success in the local and London mayoral elections a couple of months ago it would be tempting to think that we will enjoy the same performance next year. It would also be fatally complacent because so much can happen in that time. Preparation and discipline will be vital.

First, we should draw a line under the thorny issue of MEP selection and the changes made that brought in top-listing and the regional selection colleges. ConHome has pursued this issue energetically and with typical determination but we must put it behind us. Of course, there will be those who consider the changes an unpardonable slight on members' rights. Some people have even left the party over the issue. But opening up sores like this is exactly what our political opponents - and the press - want to see, namely a party fixated on Europe and prone to eternal bickering on the matter.

Second, sitting MEPs must now do what the party's compliance officer Hugh Thomas deems necessary to meet public concerns about abuse of expenses. We cannot afford to have this albatross of repeated allegations of impropriety hanging over our necks in the run-up to polling day. Candidates on the European regional lists who are not MEPs must also be made fully aware of the new appetite for scrutiny that they will face. As David Cameron said, it's not about whether you've broken the rules, it's about whether you've acted contrary to the spirit of the rules.