"Even when the tide turned foul, Edward Heath persisted in sailing a steady course", says Graham Watson MEP

5.17.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Jul 2005

Following the death of former British leader Sir Edward Heath, Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, paid tribute to the work Edward Heath accomplished in the course of his political life.

"I knew Ted Heath mainly through our work with the Jean Monnet Action Committee for Europe", he recalled.

"Europe was the cause which inspired a remarkable career in which he took the UK into the European Union, seizing the opportunity of an open tidal gate in British history. Even when the tide turned foul, he persisted in sailing a steady course. He was a truly great man who will be much missed by Liberal Democrats across Europe".