Duff queries Bell candidacy

12.00.00am GMT Fri 5th Mar 2004

Reacting to the news that Martin Bell is entering the European Parliamentary election campaign for the East of England, Liberal Democrat MEP Andrew Duff questioned the wisdom of his decision. In a statement sent to Bell's backer, the Eastern Daily Press, today, Duff said:

"I welcome another Eurosceptic candidate into the European Parliamentary campaign, along with the Tories, UKIP, the Greens and the BNP. But before Martin Bell loses an awful lot of money on another electoral ego-trip, you and he should be put right on a number of points.

"First, Liberal Democrat candidates are not chosen by Charles Kennedy but by the whole party membership in a postal ballot after a regional hustings campaign. East of England Lib Dems chose to put me first on the list and Chris White as my running mate. We choose our candidates for the House of Commons in the precisely the same way.

"Second, proportional representation for the European elections is enshrined in EU and UK law so that seats won in the Parliament match fairly votes cast across 25 member states. The fair votes system results in a vibrant and pluralistic Parliament to which regional diversity (and competition) contributes much. PR inevitably means having lists of candidates across the larger region. The fact that there is not a Norfolk born and bred MEP has got nothing to do with PR. (Indeed, I see that Mr Bell lives in London!)"

Duff concluded:

"By all means open up the list so that voters can express an individual preference between the listed candidates. That indeed is Liberal Democrat policy. People who support that modification of the electoral system should vote for me and Chris White. But your Mr Bell is in danger of coming across as parochial and reactionary."