Lib Dem MEP is the greenest

Local Lib Dem MEP Baroness Emma Nicholson has the best voting record on the environment for any MEP in the South East.

A new website set up by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and other 'Green' bodies shows Emma Nicholson scoring even higher than the Region's Green MEP! Fellow Lib Dem Chris Huhne came third with Labour and Conservative MEPs trailing behind.

Baroness Nicholson said, "I am delighted that this study shows how seriously the Liberal Democrats take the environment. We are ambitious but practical on green issues, and we get results. This is a record of which I am very proud."

The 'EU Vote Watch' selects the ten most important environmental votes in the European Parliament since the last election in 1999, and outlines how each member voted. Environmental legislation is particularly crucial at European level because air and water pollution crosses national frontiers. About 80 per cent of environmental law is decided at EU level.

Chris Huhne said, "'Environmental matters are some of the most important that the parliament has to decide, and this study shows who can be trusted to vote sensibly to protect our environment for our children."

Conservatives come last

The region's Conservative MEPs finished bottom of the 'green league table'.

Baroness Nicholson said, "I also find it shocking that the regional MEPs with the worst voting record on green issues are the Conservatives, even though they often pretend that they care about conservation and the environment. This analysis shows that their claims are simply hot air."

For more information on how your local MEPs have voted on environmental issues, the Friends of the Earth website can be found at www.foeeurope.org