LABOUR SLAMMED OVER HUSTINGS NO-SHOWS

11.25.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th May 2009

Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary elections candidates for the South West of England and Gibraltar have challenged Labour Party opponents over their failure to face the public at crucial election hustings and public meetings across the region.

Kay Barnard - who is second on the Liberal Democrats' list of candidates for the region - said:

"During the campaign so far, I've attended several public meetings where Labour have sadly failed to put up a candidate.

In some of these cases, people have travelled for miles at their own expense to hear the candidates speak and to question them on their policies - it's only fair that they are given the chance to hear what all of the main parties have to say.

Politics in this country has been badly affected by the recent Westminster expenses scandal - it's important that European candidates in the South West do their bit to rebuild trust in democracy by engaging with voters."

ENDS