PRESS RELEASE For immediate release

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: 17 June 2004
Reference 0604pr1em

Retiring Euro MP "incredulous" at election result

Mrs Eryl McNally who, after ten years' service, stands down as a Labour MEP in mid-July, has said that she's extremely disappointed by the recent election of two candidates from the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) to represent the East of England region.

Having been the only woman to represent the region in the European Parliament she is also very frustrated that no new woman has been elected.

Mrs McNally said, "I was absolutely incredulous on seeing the return of two UKIP candidates. Of course I'm a democrat and as a politician I understand about the so-called protest vote but do constituents fully understand the implications of this result?

"It's sheer impertinence on the part of the soon to be UKIP MEPs to boast that they'll take their salary but not take part in the day to day work, such as committees, of the Parliament."

"As a taxpayer I resent paying for these irresponsible people. What would people think about, say teachers of doctors, who said they'd take their salary but wouldn't necessarily turn up to work or do the work for which
they were paid?"

"I don't know if voters realised that their votes would produce not one women MEP for our region. As the only female MEP to serve our region in the last Parliament I am galled to find that Labour's woman candidate was pipped
at the post by a man from UKIP who is unlikely to carry out the job."

For further information or an interview with Eryl McNally please contact: John Walden on 07899 908731 (any time) or her PA, Anne Moseley, on 01908 314114 (Monday-Friday office hours)