Think Tank rates Liberal Democrat Euro MP as best in region

11.23.11am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th May 2009

According to a new survey of the UK's MEPs, Yorkshire & the Humber Liberal Democrat, Diana Wallis, is rated the best MEP in the region and 4th overall in the UK. By comparison, the region's UKIP MEP is ranked 72nd out of the total 78 UK MEPs.

The Think Tank, Open Europe, ranked MEPs across 20 different categories relating to transparency, accountability, democracy, and waste.

It puts Diana Wallis MEP as the top Liberal Democrat MEP in the country and just a single point behind the joint leaders of the ranking. This follows another survey reported in the English language newspaper in Brussels, European Voice, which recognised Diana Wallis as the region's best performing MEP placing her 10th out of the entire complement of 784 MEPs across 27 EU states. (dianawallismep.org.uk/news/000704/local_liberal_democrat_is_regions_best_performing_euro_mp.html)

Diana Wallis MEP, an MEP since 1999 and currently a Vice-President of the European Parliament said:

"It is always encouraging to receive recognition of my work in the European Parliament. I have always tried to do by best on behalf of the people of Yorkshire & the Humber especially on transparency which is so key at present given the anger felt by most people relating to the Westminster expenses revelations. I would count myself as privileged to be able to get back to work and to continue to represent the region after the elections next week - but of course that decision is up to the voters!"

Note:

To see Open Europe's league table, please click here:

http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/mepranking.xls (See sheet two for UK MEPs only)