Edinburgh South helps elect Scotland's newest MEP

3.06.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 8th Jun 2009

On 4th June voters in Edinburgh South helped elect George Lyon as Scotland's new Liberal Democrat MEP. Speaking after the official declaration of the European Election results at Edinburgh's Mercat Cross, Scotland's new Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon said, "It is an honour to be elected. As Scotland's liberal voice in Europe my overriding priority will be to bring the jobs and investment that Scotland needs. This Labour Government led by a Scottish Chancellor and Scottish Prime Minister has clearly lost the confidence of the Scottish people. We need a General Election and we need it now."

Westminster Spokesperson Fred Mackintosh commented, "Voters have decisively rejected Labour in Edinburgh South. The choice for the General Election will be who can best stand up for our community whilst voting to deliver reform of parliament and the financial system that pushed Britain into this recession. Only the Liberal Democrats offer the real change we need."

In the European Parliament Election Scotland's two Labour and SNP MEPs were re-elected along with George Lyon and just one of Conservative. In the previous European Parliament Scotland had had two Labour, two SNP, two Conservative and one Liberal Democrat MEP.