Graham Watson

For those of a similar name, see Graeme Watson.

Graham Watson MEP
Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 July 2004
Preceded by	group formed
Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 July 2004
Preceded by	new constituency
Leader of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Group
In office 6 January 2002 – 13 July 2004
Preceded by	Pat Cox
Succeeded by	group dissolved
Member of the European Parliament for South West England
In office 20 July 1999 – 18 July 2004
Preceded by	new constituency
Succeeded by	constituency abolished
Member of the European Parliament for Somerset and North Devon
In office 18 July 1994 – 20 July 1999
Preceded by	new constituency
Succeeded by	constituency abolished
Majority	22,500
Personal details
Born	(1956-03-23) 23 March 1956 Rothesay, United Kingdom
Political party	Liberal Democrats / ELDR
Spouse	Rita Watson
Children	1 daughter and 1 son
Residence(s)	Langport, United Kingdom
Alma mater	Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Interpreter, Banker, Politician
Website	http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org

Graham Watson MEP (born 23 March 1956) is a European politician from the United Kingdom. He has served as a Member of the European Parliament for South West England since 1994 and leader of the liberal group in Parliament since 2002.

Early life

Graham Watson was born in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute (Scotland, United Kingdom). His father was an officer in the Royal Navy and his mother a teacher. Watson was educated at the City of Bath Boys' School in Somerset where he played trombone in the school orchestra. He later returned to Scotland to attend the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh where he graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in modern languages. This allowed him to work as an interpreter between 1979 and 1980, he now speaks four European languages. After 1980 he worked as an administrator at Paisley College until 1983.

Watson had begun his political activity when he joined the International Federation of Liberal Youth, becoming a vice-president (1977) then General Secretary (1979) of the organisation. He was a founder of the European Communities' Youth Forum. He became a council member of the Party of European Liberals and Democrats between 1983 and 1993. Between 1983 and 1987 he also served as head of the private office of then leader of the British Liberal Party, Sir David Steel.

Following his work with Steel, then began work for the bank HSBC in London and Hong Kong. His work there included three months with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and gave him an interest in the Far East, he is now an adviser to the Asia Pacific Public Affairs Forum.

European Parliament

Immediately after his work with HSBC, he returned to the Liberal Democrats for the 1994 European Parliamentary election. He was elected for Somerset and North Devon with a majority of over 22,500. Watson, along with Robin Teverson for Cornwall and West Plymouth, became the first liberals returned from a British constituency to serve in the European Parliament. Watson and Teverson sat with the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) Group. During this term, Watson served on two committees; the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the Committee on Budgets, and acted as whip for the ELDR group until 1996.

Second term

In 1999 the introduction of proportional representation in the UK for European elections meant Watson's constituency was abolished in favour of a larger multi-member constituency encompassing South West England. The South West constituency would later also include Gibraltar in 2004. Watson was re-elected in this constituency as the sole liberal member during the 1999 European Parliamentary election. He had gained 171,398 votes, 15.7% of the total behind both Labour and the Conservatives (1 and 4 seats respectively). During this term he led the British liberals in the parliament and between 1999 to 2002 he held the chair of the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs.

During this parliamentary term the ELDR Group were in coalition with the European People's Party–European Democrats (EPP–ED). As per a usual agreement between the majority alliance, the term of President of the European Parliament is split between the two parties, giving the then-leader of the ELDR Group, Pat Cox MEP, the Presidency from 2002. When he took up the post, Watson was elected to succeed him as leader of the ELDR Group.

Third term

Watson was re-elected once more following the 2004 European Parliamentary election with 265,619 votes (18.3%) behind the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) with 326,784 votes (22.6% giving two seats) and the Conservatives with 457,371 votes (31.6% giving three seats). Labour had fallen behind the Liberals to 209,908 votes (14.5%) but still retained one seat.

Following the election, the ELDR entered into an alliance with the newly formed European Democratic Party to form the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. The ALDE group replaced the ELDR group (though ELDR and EDP exist as separate parties outside the Parliament) and Watson was elected leader of the new ALDE group which was the largest group ever established in the Parliament outside of the European People's Party and Party of European Socialists.

In 2007 Watson addressed the ELDR congress stating he wished to break the current left-right grand coalition. He had previously been critical of this and welcomed the centre-right alliance his group had formed for the fifth term. Watson liked the Socialists to poodles of the People's Party in their alliance. He cited in contrast the strength of the ALDE group in the Parliament and the Commission and that after 2009, the liberals would have strong candidates for the Commission. He also stated that the party would be moving towards Europe-wide campaigning rather than separate national campaigns.

On 7 January 2009 he announced that he would be a candidate for the office of President of the European Parliament after the elections in June 2009

Forth term

Graham is again top of the Party List for the Liberal Democrats in the upcoming European Elections on June 4th. If successfully elected this will make his forth term as an MEP .

Other activities and family

Watson now lives in Langport, Somerset, with his wife and two children. His wife, Rita, is from Italy and their children, one daughter called Frederica and one son called Gregory, were born in 1992 and 1995 respectively. He also has a dog called Brillig. Watson enjoys sailing and jazz music. From 1999 he was editor of "The Parliament Magazine", a role now filled by Brian Johnson.

Bibliography

• Watson, Graham (2006). The Power of Speech. Bagehot Publishing. ISBN 978-0954574543. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Watson, Graham (2006). Liberalism - Something to Shout About. Bagehot Publishing. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Watson, Graham (2005). Liberal Democracy & Globalisation. Bagehot Publishing. ISBN 978-0954574529. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Watson, Graham (2004). EU've Got Mail!: Liberal Letters from the European Parliament. Bagehot Publishing. ISBN 978-0954574512. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Watson, Graham (1989–2003). Liberal Language: Speeches and Essays. Bagehot Publishing. ISBN 978-0954574505. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: date format (link)
• Watson, Graham (2001). 2020 Vision. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Watson, Graham (2000). To the Power of Ten: UK Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament. Centre for Reform. ISBN 978-1902622170. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Watson, Graham (1980). The Liberals in the North-South dialogue.

External links

• Graham Watson MEP, official site
• MEP Profile of Graham Watson, European Parliament
• Biographical details: Graham Watson MEP, ALDE
• Graham Watson Profile, UK Liberal Democrats
• Speeches by members of ALDE, YouTube
• Graham Watson, a Liberal in Bagehot's Footsteps (documentary on work and motivations), YouTube