Andrew Duff MEP has been elected Leader of the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary Party (LDEPP) in a vote yesterday evening. The contest was triggered following Diana Wallis’ resignation as Leader after she was elected a Vice-President of the European Parliament.

Speaking after the result, Andrew Duff said:

“I am grateful to my Liberal Democrat colleagues for electing me to lead the delegation into the second half of this Parliament. The individual talents of Lib Dem MEPs are well known. They are a fantastic team to work with, and we will continue to achieve much across a wide front within the ALDE Group and the Parliament at large.

“My main goal is to get as many Lib Dem MEPs as possible elected in June 2009. The Liberal Democrats are uniquely well placed to put the European dimension back into British politics. Labour has lost its way on Europe, and the Tories are making an historic mistake by turning their backs on Europe.

“Under Ming Campbell, the Liberal Democrats make the connection between Britain’s membership of the EU and its ability to tackle reform at home. Europe provides the context for many of Lib Dem policies ‑ such as green taxes, civil liberties, constitutional reform, and new foreign policy orientations.”

Sir Menzies Campbell, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, added:

“I extend my congratulations to Andrew Duff on being elected by his colleagues as leader of the British Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament. I look forward to working with him.”