Local Euro MP is new MEP Leader

12.32.41pm GMT Tue 23rd Jan 2007

Andrew Duff takes over from Diana Wallis as Lib Dems' MEP leader

Chelmsford's Lib Dem MEP Andrew Duff has been elected Leader of the British Liberal Democrat Members of the European Parliament. Andrew takes over from Diana Wallis who has been elected as a Vice-President of the European Parliament.

Speaking after his election, Andrew said: "I am grateful to my Liberal Democrat colleagues for electing me to lead the delegation into the second half of this Parliament. The individual talents of Lib Dem MEPs are well known. They are a fantastic team to work with, and we will continue to achieve much across a wide front within the ALDE Group (which now has over 100 MEPs) and the Parliament at large.

"My main goal is to get as many Lib Dem MEPs as possible elected in June 2009. The Liberal Democrats are uniquely well placed to put the European dimension back into British politics. Labour has lost its way on Europe, and the Tories are making an historic mistake by turning their backs on Europe.

"Under Ming Campbell, the Liberal Democrats make the connection between Britain's membership of the EU and its ability to tackle reform at home. Europe provides the context for many of Lib Dem policies such as green taxes, civil liberties, constitutional reform, and new foreign policy orientations."

Andrew Duff has been Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the East of England since 1999. He is the author or editor of many books on European integration, most recently "The Struggle for Europe's Constitution", published in 2005. Andrew was a City Councillor in Cambridge from 1982-90.

Related Links:

Andrew Duff's website.

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

European Liberal Democrat & Reform Party.