Vice President of Lib Dems’ LGBT group loses MEP seat

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The Liberal Democrats are paying tribute to the Vice President of the party’s LGBT group, after she was among 10 Lib Dem MEPs to lose their seats.

Baroness Sarah Ludford was first elected to represent London in the European Parliament in 1999. She frequently raised the subject of LGBT rights in her capacity as a member of the European Parliament’s LGBT Intergroup.

Baroness Ludford in February criticised Conservative and UKIP MEPs for failing to sign up to the Parliament’s LGBT roadmap on tackling homophobic discrimination.

The Chair of LGBTory, Colm Howard-Lloyd, rejected Baroness Ludford’s claims. Last night she was among eight Lib Dem MEPs to lose their seats.

She tweeted: “Very sad to lose, but want to sincerely thank all @LibDems colleagues. Am proud of our party, our hard work, and especially our values.”

The party now has only one MEP, beaten into fifth place by the Greens who have three. Giles Goodall, a gay Liberal Democrat MEP candidate for the South East, was among several Lib Dems to tweet condolences for Baroness Ludford.

Mr Goodall also pledged his support for Lib Dem leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who is facing calls to resign.