West Midlands Euro-MP is "kingmaker" says independent report

9.54.55am GMT Tue 2nd Feb 2010

The votes of Liz Lynne and other Lib Dem MEPs are decisive in the European Parliament, says a new report

Liberal Democrats may not have power at Westminster but a new report shows that they are "kingmakers" in Brussels.

An independent analysis has revealed that local Lib Dem Euro MP Liz Lynne her colleagues now hold the balance of power in the European Parliament.

With no party having a majority, the 84-strong group of European Liberal Democrats are on the winning side of more than 90% of votes taken in the Brussels assembly.

Once dismissed as a talking shop, the European Parliament now has equal powers to government ministers in fixing the final shape of EU laws.

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne said the report by 'VoteWatch' came as no surprise.

"I'm in politics to make a difference and as the hands go up across the chamber it's obvious that the way in which Liberal Democrats vote very often determines the outcome."

The report also reveals that UKIP and British Conservative MEPs are the least likely to win votes in the Parliament, giving ammunition to critics of David Cameron's policy of pulling his party out of Europe's main right-of-centre group.

The report, drawn up by independent group Votewatch.eu can be downloaded using this link:

http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/votewatch_report_voting_behaviour_in_the_new_european_parliament.pdf

ENDS