Liberal Democrats are Top Reformers in Europe

10.52.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Jun 2004

Lib Dem MEPs have come top of a chart of votes to reform the European Parliament, according to a new study by the London School of Economics.

The study looks at the record of all MEPs when it comes to 40 votes on issues such as stopping the whole Parliament moving from Brussels to Strasbourg each month and reform of MEPs expenses.

It concludes that Lib Dem MEPs in the European Parliament are the most reform-minded of all the British political parties, with a reform score of 89%.

Graham Watson, Leader of the Liberal Democrat MEPs commented "Liberal Democrats have consistently voted in favour of reforming the European Parliament. The Tories often talk about reform, but this independent analysis proves that when it comes to votes, their record is the worst of all the main British parties."