The UK Liberal Democrats have announced the list of MEP candidates in England and Wales for the elections to the European Parliament taking place on 23 May.

Following the decision of the European Council last week, EU Prime Ministers decided to grant the United Kingdom a “flexible extension” of the Article 50 period until the 31 October 2019.

If the United Kingdom is still a member of the EU on 23-26 May 2019, and if it has not ratified the Withdrawal Agreement by a majority vote in the UK Parliament before 22 May 2019, it is obliged to hold elections to the European Parliament in accordance with European Union law.

Liberal Democrats members have voted to determine the order of the lists and the party will fight the elections as an unapologetically pro-European Party campaigning hard for People's Vote with an option to remain in the EU.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Vince Cable said: “Today we’ve announced a strong, diverse mix of candidates, from those who’ve joined the Liberal Democrats recently to those with long experience of the European Parliament. We will fight these elections on a clear message: a Liberal Democrat vote is a vote to stop Brexit.”

“Across the country, the strength of our membership of 100,000 is being deployed to prepare for both the European elections and for council elections on May 2nd. From local communities to the EU institutions, Liberal Democrats are determined to give a voice to the millions of people who demand better than Brexit Britain.”

The full list of candidates can be found here.

Current MEP Catherine Bearder is the lead candidate in the South East constituency, with former LibDem MEPs Phil Bennion, Chris Davies, Fiona Hall and Bill Newton Dunn heading the lists in the West Midlands, North West, North East and East Midlands regions respectively. The sixth candidate in the South West of England and Gibraltar constituency will be named in cooperation with the Liberal Party of Gibraltar.

The party’s candidates in Scotland will be announced shortly.