SOMERSET NEWS: LibDems lose out in Euro Elections

LIBERAL Democrats will be trying to pick up the pieces following a catastrophic European election.

UKIP gained 27.5 per cent of the vote nationally and had 24 MEPs elected. Labour came second with 25.4 per cent and 20 MEPs and the Conservatives were third with 23.93 per cent and 19 MEPs.

But the LibDems were well down in fifth– behind the Green Party – with just 6.87 per cent of the vote and saw them only retain one MEP, a drop of ten from the last election of 2009.

The South West region election saw UKIP and Conservatives take two MEPs apiece of the six available. Labour and the Green Party gained one each.

It means that Sir Graham Watson’s tenure as a MEP for the South West has come to an after 20 years.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Sir Graham Watson, of the Liberal Democrats, lost his place at the European Parliament.

Sir Graham said: “The humiliation of defeat always teaches you more than the vanity of victory.

“It has been an honour and a pleasure to serve the South West of England and Gibraltar in the European Parliament. I shall miss it, but I wish my successors well.”

The MEPs for the South West are as follows: Conservative – Ashley Fox, Julie Girling; Green Party – Molly Scott Cato; Labour – Clare Moody; UKIP – William Dartmouth, Julia Reid.

Sir Graham added: “Politics is the kind of profession that you live with winning and you live with losing and I have no doubt the Liberal Democrats will be back.

“Naturally I am disappointed, but not terribly surprised. The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have taken a beating.”

Tags:
News.