Duff attacks UKIP justification for letter bombs

12.00.00am GMT Tue 6th Jan 2004

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat MEP for the East of England, has reacted strongly against the suggestions from the UK Independence Party that the terrorist attacks on EU political personalities is a result of a lack of democracy.

In a statement today Mr Duff said:

'UKIP representatives have shown the highest contempt for strengthening the constitutional legitimacy of the European Union. They hate and fear the growing strength and effectiveness of the European Parliament. They are wholly misguided, but they are entitled to their view.

'What is inexcusable is to seek to justify the pathetic efforts of Italian anarchists to maim Romano Prodi and other civilians.

'If UKIP sinks to the level of ETA and the IRA decent people will know what to do with their candidates in this June's forthcoming European Parliamentary elections. All decent people will reject these English ultra-nationalists and their sinister undertones'.