Liberal Democrats Hail Result as Best of the Mainstream Parties

12.00.00am GMT Mon 14th Jun 2004

The European Parliament election result across the South East region showed that the Liberal Democrats are the only mainstream political party picking up support, said Chris Huhne MEP, the leading Liberal Democrat elected last night.

'This is a great springboard for an increased number of Liberal Democrat MPs at the general election' said Mr Huhne.

Mr Huhne pointed to the increase in support for the Liberal Democrats as the reason why the party had held its two MEPs in the region even though many had expected that the overall cut in the total would lead to a cut in the number of Liberal Democrat MEPs.

'Here we have done better to hold our own despite the cut in the total number of MEPs. Compare that with the Conservative loss of two MEPs - James Provan and Roy Perry - and with the Labour loss of one MEP - Mark Watts' said Mr Huhne. The overall total of MEPs was cut from 11 to 10 because of enlargement of the European Union.

'And nationally, the increase in Liberal Democrat support has delivered an MEP in the North East - our first ever - and a second MEP in the North West. Moreover, Liberal Democrats elsewhere in Europe have been performing strongly so that the overall group will be even larger, and with a stronger grip on the balance of power in the parliament' said Mr Huhne.

'As during the last parliament, we will be able to deliver reform for British people that the other parties cannot. People responded well to our message that we should change Europe, not chuck it' said Mr Huhne.