Euro-MPs' exclusion from memorial service regrettable.

4.51.22pm GMT Tue 1st Nov 2005

London's Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has written to Tessa Jowell to ask why her department excluded London's Euro-MPs from invitations to attend the St Paul's memorial service for the victims of the July 7th bombings.

Baroness Ludford was told by a Department for Culture, Media and Sport official that they had invited only relevant Cabinet members, London MPs and the Mayor "as this is very much a London memorial event."

Sarah Ludford said:

"It is regrettable that Whitehall fails to recognise that London's 9 Members of the European Parliament are directly elected to represent all Londoners. The victims were and are our constituents as much as they are MPs' constituents. I would have appreciated the opportunity to pay tribute to them."

"It is recognised, not least by the present government, that the threat of terrorism needs to be addressed on a pan-European and international basis. That needs to be reflected in inclusion of Euro-MPs in events remembering bomb victims and their families.."