Lib Dems announce Euro 2014 candidate list

South West Liberal Democrats have followed the Conservatives and Labour in announcing their candidate list for the 2014 European elections.

Lib Dems in the South West region have overwhelmingly voted to select sitting MEP, Sir Graham Watson to lead the party’s list in a ballot of party members.

The UK will vote for its Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on 22 May 2014 - the same day it goes to the polls for local council elections.

Six MEPs are elected, under a party list system of proportional representation, to represent the South West constituency which is made up of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Gibraltar.

The Conservatives currently hold three of the six seats, UKIP two and the Liberal Democrats one. These members were elected the last time the European elections were held, in 2009.

Sir Graham Watson, who has been an MEP since 1994, will seek re-election for a fifth term as one of the regions six Members of the European Parliament.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: "In addition to assisting thousands of constituents with issues ranging from compensation from airlines over cancelled holidays to getting healthcare abroad and applying for European funding, Sir Graham has a strong record as a standard bearer for the South West in Brussels and securing vital investment for the region in economic development and skills funding."

Sir Graham Watson commented: “I want to see us work proactively with Europe, to make our area more prosperous, safer and greener.

"The challenges we face on a daily basis, from a changing climate, to tackling organised crime and to securing our future energy and food supplies require us to work with other countries.

“I want to continue to fight for a fair deal for the South West, using my knowledge and experience to deliver more funding for our region. Funding to spend on training our young people, getting more people back into work and investing in broadband and transport. I will continue to campaign for South West businesses that trade outside the UK, selling our goods and services onto new markets in India, China and the Middle East.

West Somerset farmer Kay Barnard was selected in the number two position. The third slot goes to Brian Matthew, parliamentary candidate in former Conservative minister Liam Fox’s North Somerset constituency in 2010.

He is also working on a project called the ‘reef’, an alternative to the current Severn Barrage proposals in the Bristol Channel.

The outcome of next year's election day public vote will determine how many from each of the party lists (from number one down) are elected, based on a proportional formula.

The Liberal Democrat candidates in descending order:

1. Sir Graham Watson
2. Kay Barnard
3. Brian Matthew
4. Andrew Wigley
5. Jay Risbridger

The sixth place on the list will be chosen by the Liberal Party of Gibraltar.