GRAHAM WATSON MEP 'ENCOURAGED BY SOLID RESULT'

3.12.56pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 8th Jun 2009

Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson is responding to results for the European Parliamentary elections for the South West & Gibraltar this afternoon.

Mr. Watson retained his seat in the European Parliament after the Liberal Democrats secured over a quarter of a million votes across the constituency, a 17.2% share.

Speaking after results were announced in Poole in the early hours of this morning, Mr. Watson said:

"I'm very grateful to the voters of the South West & Gibraltar for putting their faith in me once again, and allowing me to continue my work on their behalf.

It is of course disappointing for us not to have won a second Liberal Democrat MEP here, but I'm pleased that our national representation has held up.

Given that the Westminster expenses scandal has led to uncertainty and frustration among many voters, we are encouraged to see our vote has held up in the South West & elsewhere in the country: it is a solid result."