MEP "will not be cowed" by Ganley threat

9.24.00am GMT Mon 2nd Mar 2009

Graham Watson MEP

South West MEP Graham Watson, who leads the pan-European Liberal Democrat group in the European Parliament, has reacted to a threat from Irish multi-millionaire Declan Ganley by saying he will not be cowed.

Angered by the MEP's suggestion that he misled the Irish people in his campaign against the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland's recent referendum, the multi-millionaire has threatened to take out full-page advertisements in West Country newspapers against Mr Watson during the forthcoming European election campaign. Mr Ganley's party, Libertas, hopes to contest the elections in a number of European countries and has waged war on those who seek to defend and strengthen the EU.

"Even if the newspapers in my constituency may be tempted by the pressures of the recession to take Mr Ganley's money, I am confident that the people of South West England and Gibraltar will not be fooled by a crass attack by a foreigner on a representative of our region", Graham Watson said.