The People's Republic of South Devon

Graham Watson: the long-serving South West MEP has been given a gong in the Queen’s honors list, and a Knighthood at that

Graham Watson, the long-serving liberal Democrat MEP for the South West England and Gibraltar, has been awarded a Knighthood “for public and political services” by her Majesty the Queen in her annual Birthday Honours List released this morning (Saturday, June 11).

Mr Watson, now residing in Langport (Somerset), was born in Rothesay (Scotland) and was first elected to serve the residents of the South West in the European Parliament in the 1994 elections.

He was the first ever British Liberal Democrat to be elected to the European Parliament.

From 1994 to 1999, Mr Watson served a member of the Committee for Economic & Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy as well as the Budgets Committee, and later from July 1999 to 2002 he served as chairman of the Committee on Citizens’ Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs.

He served as leader of the Liberal Democrat party for three years between 1999 and 2002 when he was elected leader of the Liberal ALDE group within the European Parliament. Under his leadership, the Liberal group grew to become the third largest party in the assembly and are today often kingmakers whose support is vital in order to pass motions that shape the European Union.

After seven and a half years at the helm, Mr Watson relinquished the leader role for former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in 2009, but still plays a big role on the backbenches and as chair of the delegation to India, a member of the delegation to China, and a member of the hallowed Committee of Foreign Affairs.

He becomes the second in the current batch of UK MEPs to have received a knighthood. Conservative MEP for the North West Sir Robert Atkins was knighted in 1997 for services to the country.

Congratulations Sir Graham!

(image: Graham Watson: Some rights reserved by ALDEADLE)

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