South West England is a constituency of the
European ParliamentThe European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the
d'Hondt methodThe d'Hondt method is a highest averages method for allocating seats in party-list proportional representation. The method described is named after Belgian mathematician Victor D'Hondt who described it in 1878...
of
party-list proportional representationParty-list proportional representation systems are a family of voting systems emphasizing proportional representation in elections in which multiple candidates are elected...
, reduced from 7 in 2004.
Boundaries
The constituency consists of the
South West EnglandSouth West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
region of the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, comprising the
ceremonial countiesThe ceremonial counties are areas of England to which are appointed a Lord Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as counties and areas for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England and Lieutenancies Act 1997...
of
BristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
,
CornwallCornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
,
DevonDevon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
,
DorsetDorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
,
GloucestershireGloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
,
SomersetThe ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and
WiltshireWiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. It also includes the
British Overseas TerritoryThe British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories of the United Kingdom which, although they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself, fall under its jurisdiction. They are remnants of the British Empire that have not acquired independence or have voted to remain British territories...
of
GibraltarGibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
.
History
The constituency was formed as a result of the
European Parliamentary Elections Act 1999The European Parliamentary Elections Act 1999 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its long title is "An Act to amend the European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978 so as to alter the method used in Great Britain for electing Members of the European Parliament to make other amendments...
, replacing a number of single-member constituencies. These were
BristolBristol was a European Parliament constituency centred on Bristol in England, but covering much of Avon. Until 1984, it included parts of southern Gloucestershire and northwestern Wiltshire....
,
Cornwall and West PlymouthCornwall and West Plymouth was a European Parliament constituency covering Cornwall and Plymouth in England. With Somerset and North Devon, it was one of the first two seats to elect a Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament....
,
Devon and East PlymouthDevon and East Plymouth was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Devon in England, with the exception of the city of Plymouth. It was created in 1994 to replace the majority of Devon and a small part of Cornwall and Plymouth....
,
Dorset and East DevonDorset and East Devon was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Dorset in England, with the exception of Christchurch, plus parts of eastern Devon....
,
Somerset and North DevonSomerset and North Devon was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Somerset in England, plus northern Devon and south-western Avon...
,
Wiltshire North and BathWiltshire North and Bath was a United Kingdom European Parliament constituency, electing one member. As a result of a boundary reorganization, it came into being for the European Parliament election of 1994 and ceased to exist in 1999, when the United Kingdom abandoned the first-past-the-post...
, and parts of
CotswoldsBefore uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in Great Britain...
.
Before the 2004 election, it was expanded to include
GibraltarGibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. This was the result of a 1999
European Court of Human RightsThe European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
case, which argued that Gibraltar should be entitled to vote in European elections.
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
took a complaint about Gibraltar participating in European elections to the
European Court of JusticeThe Court can sit in plenary session, as a Grand Chamber of 13 judges, or in chambers of three or five judges. Plenary sitting are now very rare, and the court mostly sits in chambers of three or five judges...
, but their case was unsuccessful.
| MEPs for former South West England constituencies, 1979 – 1999 |
| Election |
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1979 – 1984 |
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1984 – 1989 |
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1989 – 1994 |
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1994 – 1999 |
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| Bristol Bristol was a European Parliament constituency centred on Bristol in England, but covering much of Avon. Until 1984, it included parts of southern Gloucestershire and northwestern Wiltshire....
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Richard Cottrell
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Ian White Ian White born April 8, 1945 was a Member of the European Parliament for Bristol, UK for the Labour Party. White was born in South Bristol, and trained as a solicitor. Prior to becoming an MEP he stood for Parliament in the Wansdyke constituency...
LabourThe Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
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| Cornwall and Plymouth Cornwall and Plymouth was a European Parliament constituency covering Cornwall and Plymouth in England.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
(1979 – 1994)
Cornwall and West PlymouthCornwall and West Plymouth was a European Parliament constituency covering Cornwall and Plymouth in England. With Somerset and North Devon, it was one of the first two seats to elect a Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament....
(1994 – 1999) |
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David Harris David Anthony Harris is a British Conservative politician.Harris was Member of Parliament for St. Ives from 1983 until he stood down on March 20, 1997, and also Member of the European Parliament for Cornwall and Plymouth from 1979 to 1984...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Christopher Beazley Christopher John Pridham Beazley is a British politician for the Conservative Party, who served as a Member of the European Parliament 1984–1994 and 1999–2009.-Background:...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Robin Teverson Robin Teverson, Baron Teverson is a Liberal Democrat Whip and currently Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change .The son of Crofton Teverson, he was educated at Exeter University...
Liberal Democrat |
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| Cotswolds Before uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in Great Britain...
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Lord Plumb Charles Henry Plumb, Baron Plumb DL is a British farmer who went into politics as a leader of the National Farmers Union. He later became active in the Conservative Party and was elected as a Member of the European Parliament...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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| Devon Devon was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Devon in England, with the exception of the city of Plymouth.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
(1979 – 1994)
Devon and East PlymouthDevon and East Plymouth was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Devon in England, with the exception of the city of Plymouth. It was created in 1994 to replace the majority of Devon and a small part of Cornwall and Plymouth....
(1994 – 1999) |
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Lord O'Hagan Charles Towneley Strachey, 4th Baron O'Hagan is a British Conservative party politician.The grandson of Maurice Towneley-O'Hagan, 3rd Baron O'Hagan, he inherited the family title at the age of 16 on his grandfather's death in 1961, his father the Hon. Thomas Anthony Edward Towneley Strachey having...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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| Somerset Somerset was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Somerset in England, and southern Avon.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
(1979 – 1984)
Somerset and Dorset WestSomerset and Dorset West was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Somerset in England, plus parts of Avon and western Dorset.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England,...
(1984 – 1994)
Somerset and North DevonSomerset and North Devon was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Somerset in England, plus northern Devon and south-western Avon...
(1994 – 1999) |
|
Frederick Warner Sir Frederick Archibald Warner, GCVO, KCMG was British diplomat and businessman who at the end of his career was elected to the European Parliament.-Education:...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Margaret Daly Margaret Daly was a British Conservative Party politician who represented Somerset and West Dorset in the European Parliament from 1984 to 1994.Daly was a member of various committees including:* Women's Rights Committees...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Graham WatsonSir Graham Robert Watson is a European politician from the United Kingdom. He has served as a Member of the European Parliament for South West England since 1994 and was leader of the liberal group in Parliament for seven years between 2002 and 2009.-Early life:Graham Watson was born in Rothesay...
Liberal Democrat |
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| Upper Thames Upper Thames was a United Kingdom European Parliament constituency, electing one member under the first-past-the-post system. It came into being for the European Parliament election of 1979 and ceased to exist in 1984, due to boundary reorganization....
(1979 – 1984)
WiltshirePrior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales. The European Parliament constituencies used under that system were smaller than the later regional constituencies and only had...
(1984 – 1994)
Wiltshire North and BathWiltshire North and Bath was a United Kingdom European Parliament constituency, electing one member. As a result of a boundary reorganization, it came into being for the European Parliament election of 1994 and ceased to exist in 1999, when the United Kingdom abandoned the first-past-the-post...
(1994 – 1999) |
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Robert Jackson Robert Victor Jackson is a politician in the United Kingdom. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1984 and Member of Parliament for Wantage from 1983 to 2005, having been elected as a Conservative; however, he joined the Labour Party in 2005.-Early life:He was raised in...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Caroline Jackson Caroline Jackson is a politician in the United Kingdom. She was a Member of the European Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1984 to 2009....
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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| Wessex Wessex was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Dorset in England, plus parts of western Hampshire and southern Wiltshire. It was named after the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex....
(1979 – 1984)
Dorset East and Hampshire WestDorset East and Hampshire West was a European Parliament constituency covering most of Dorset and parts of western Hampshire in England.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland...
(1984 – 1994)
Dorset and East DevonDorset and East Devon was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Dorset in England, with the exception of Christchurch, plus parts of eastern Devon....
(1994 – 1999) |
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James Spicer Sir James Wilton Spicer, known as Jim Spicer, is a British Conservative politician.Spicer was Member of Parliament for West Dorset from February 1974 until he retired at the 1997 general election, when he was succeeded by Oliver Letwin...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Bryan Cassidy
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Dedicated Euro-constituency and MEP for Cornwall
Currently, the Cornish political party
Mebyon KernowMebyon Kernow is a left-of-centre political party in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It primarily campaigns for devolution to Cornwall in the form of a Cornish Assembly, as well as social democracy and environmental protection.MK was formed as a pressure group in 1951, and contained as members activists...
is campaigning for a dedicated Euro-constituency and MEP for
CornwallCornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. In May 2009 leader Dick Cole said, “This European election represents a huge democratic deficit for the people of Cornwall. Our distinct needs are ignored in the massive South West constituency and we have been poorly served by MEPs not resident in Cornwall. We consider it a nonsense that the European parliamentary constituency stretches from the Isles of Scilly to Bristol via Gibraltar. We hope voters will support our campaign for proper Cornish representation in Europe including a European Parliamentary constituency for Cornwall.” Until 1994 Cornwall was represented by the much smaller
Cornwall and PlymouthCornwall and Plymouth was a European Parliament constituency covering Cornwall and Plymouth in England.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales...
constituency.
Returned members
| MEPs for South West England, 1999 onwards |
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MEP
Party |
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Graham WatsonSir Graham Robert Watson is a European politician from the United Kingdom. He has served as a Member of the European Parliament for South West England since 1994 and was leader of the liberal group in Parliament for seven years between 2002 and 2009.-Early life:Graham Watson was born in Rothesay...
Liberal Democrat |
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MEP
Party |
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Giles Chichester Giles Chichester is a British Conservative Party politician, and a Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar. He was elected as a temporary Vice President of the European Parliament on 6 July 2011 to replace Silvana Koch-Mehrin who had resigned over plagiarism...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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MEP
Party |
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Caroline Jackson Caroline Jackson is a politician in the United Kingdom. She was a Member of the European Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1984 to 2009....
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Ashley Fox Ashley Fox is a British solicitor and politician who is currently a Member of the European Parliament, representing South West England for the Conservative Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists political group....
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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MEP
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Neil Parish Neil Quentin Gordon Parish is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Tiverton and Honiton, elected at the 2010 general election. He had been a Member of the European Parliament for South West England from 1999 to 2009.-Career:Prior to beginning his career in...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Julie Girling Julie Girling MEP is a British Conservative politician, currently serving as a Member of European Parliament for the South West of England.Girling is a former Leader of Cotswold District Council, and Cabinet Member for the Environment on Gloucestershire County Council, resigning from both in the...
ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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MEP
Party |
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ConservativeThe Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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Roger Knapman Roger Maurice Knapman is a British politician and the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party ....
UKIPThe United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
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Earl of DartmouthWilliam Legge, 10th Earl of Dartmouth is a British peer and politician. He is a Member of the European Parliament for South West England representing the United Kingdom Independence Party.-Early life:...
UKIPThe United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
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MEP
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Michael Holmes Michael Holmes is a former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party and MEP for South West England.Holmes was elected leader of UKIP in 1997. In 1999 he and two other UKIP candidates were elected to the European Parliament. The following year, he stepped down from the leadership as a result...
UKIPThe United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
(1999 – 2000)
Independent (2000 – 2002) |
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Graham Booth Graham H. Booth is an English politician, and was a Member of the European Parliament for South West England between 2002 and 2008. He is a member of the United Kingdom Independence Party...
UKIPThe United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
(2002 – 2008) |
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Trevor ColmanTrevor Colman is a Member of the European Parliament for South West England. He represents the 2nd seat in the constituency, for the United Kingdom Independence Party....
UKIPThe United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
(2008 – present) |
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MEP
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Glyn Ford Glyn Ford was a member of the European Parliament initially for Greater Manchester East, until 1999 and then South West England for the Labour Party and Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party....
LabourThe Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
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Seat abolished |
Election results
See also:
European Parliament election, 2004 (Gibraltar)Gibraltar's first participation in the elections to the European Parliament were held on 10 June 2004 as part of Europe-wide elections. Although part of the European Union, Gibraltar had never before voted in European Parliamentary elections, in part due to its small electorate of just over 20,000...
and
European Parliament election, 2009 (Gibraltar)The European Parliament election of 2009 in Gibraltar was the election of the delegation for the combined region of South West England and Gibraltar to the European Parliament in 2009. It took place on 4 June 2009, with the results announced on 7 June 2009. The Conservatives won with 51% of the...
Elected candidates are shown in
bold. Brackets indicate the number of votes per seat won.
External links