Bowles Leads European List for South East Region for 2009

7.59.00am GMT Sun 11th Nov 2007

Sharon Bowles MEP and Catherine Bearder will head the 2009 Liberal Democrat Candidates for South-East England

The Liberal Democrat candidates for South-England for the European Parliament elections in 2009 have been announced. Current MEP Sharon Bowles heads the list, followed by well known Regional campaigner Catherine Bearder, and Bromley By-Election candidate Ben Abbotts.

Dover Campaigner (and 2005 Parliamentary candidate) Anthony Hook was elected 5th on the list.

The candidates were elected using the Single Transferable Vote system by Liberal Democrat members across the South East England Euro region. The huge region covers Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the Isle of Wight.

The list was announced as:

1. Sharon Bowles

2. Catherine Bearder

3. Ben Abbotts

4. Jim Barnard

5. Anthony Hook

6. Murari Kaushik

7. Simon Green

8. Zoe Patrick

9. Gary Lawson

10. David Grace

Shepway Liberal Democrat Local Party Chair, Tim Prater, commented:

"The South East have selected a formidable team. Sharon Bowles has been doing excellent work standing up for the region in Europe - not least, through her campaign to retain Eurostar services from Ashford International.

"The Liberal Democrats will be fighting to gain more European seats in 2009, standing on our record of delivering for the region through positively working through the European Parliament."