Lib Dems choose European Election list for the East of England

12.00.00am GMT Mon 10th Mar 2003

Liberal Democrats in the East of England have selected their candidates for the European Parliamentary elections next year.

Top of the list is Andrew Duff, who has represented the region in the European Parliament since 1999 and who leads the European Liberal Democrats in the Constitutional Convention on the Future of Europe.

Second is Chris White, who leads the Lib Dems on Hertfordshire County Council and in the East of England Regional Assembly. Third is Kathy Pollard, who is deputy Leader of the Lib Dems on Suffolk County Council.

Andrew Duff MEP said:

"I am honoured that the Liberal Democrat membership has renewed its trust in me by choosing me to lead their team for the European Parliament next year.

"Since 1999 the Lib Dems have grown fast in the East of England. We control more councils than ever before, and at the general election in 2001 we elected our second MP. Next year we will be going all out for our second MEP.

"As people rapidly lose faith in New Labour, they are turning to the Liberal Democrats in ever larger numbers as the only progressive pro-European force in British politics. Lib Dems are really making the difference both in the European Parliament and in the East of England."

The Liberal Democrats select their Euro MP candidates by postal ballot of all party members on the region - the most pluralistic and democratic of all the political parties.

Chris White added:

"This is going to be an exciting year. With Labour entering choppy waters and the Tories still struggling to regain credibility, the Liberal Democrats are increasingly seen as an attractive option, at local, national and European level."

The full Liberal Democrat list for the East of England in order is Andrew Duff, Chris White, Kathy Pollard, Rosalind Gill, Paul Howell, Guillaume McLaughlin, Earnshaw Palmer and Nimah Bouthe.