9th September 2009 - Linda pays tribute to predecessor

Linda McAvan has today paid tribute to her predecessor Norman West, who passed away on Monday aged 73.

Norman West was first elected to represent the Yorkshire South European Parliament seat in July 1984 and served until his retirement in March 1998. Linda McAvan was first elected in the resulting by-election.

Linda said;

"Norman worked hard for our mining communities during some very difficult times, during the strike and the pit closures that followed. It was those traumatic experiences that began the process of European funding that has helped to regenerate so many of our local communities. That legacy will be with us for many years to come.”

Former South Yorkshire Euro-MP Norman West (photo: European Parliament)