More Liberal Democrats in Westminster will mean more constructive relationship with Brussels

11.13.50am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th May 2005

Welcoming the result of the UK's national election last night which saw the Liberal Democrats win the highest number of parliamentary seats in Westminster since 1929, Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament said:

"The Liberal Democrats in the UK continue their inexorable progress towards government. A stronger parliamentary team in the House of Commons under Charles Kennedy will pack more punch for liberalism and strengthen Britain's EU commitment."

"The UK's persistence with an out-dated voting system means once again that some votes count more than others whilst many are wasted and the outcome does not reflect the electorate's wishes. A proportional system similar to those used everywhere else in Europe would have produced an outcome which more truly reflected the strength of Liberal Democrat support."

"Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of this election was the absence of any EU context to the parties' election campaigns when quite clearly decisions at European level play a significant part in our everyday lives. If it were not so glaringly false one might almost be led to believe that the security, prosperity and well-being of the UK could be determined exclusively by the decisions of the House of Commons in Westminster."

"Now that this election campaign is over, all serious parties in Britain should turn their attention to the referendum on the European Constitution and confirm Britain's close relationship with its European partners. Europe is not a matter for foreign affairs but a domestic issue since it concerns itself principally with improving the quality of our lives on the environment, consumer protection, rural development and economic prosperity."