Euro-MPs' exclusion from memorial service regrettable.

4.51.22pm UTC (GMT +0000) 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.."