Lib Dem MEP quits over e-mail to voter

The leader of the Liberal Democrats in Europe resigned last night after making offensive remarks to a Jewish constituent.

North West MEP Chris Davies had written an e-mail to the constituent saying he hoped she enjoyed "wallowing in her own filth".

Mr Davies said: "I apologise for the language and tone of my e-mail, which was unacceptable and without justification. I should never have used the words I did .... I have written to the lady concerned apologising."

The constituent had written to him to disagree with comments he made last month, when he claimed that Jews, despite experiencing the Holocaust, did not care that "they have themselves become oppressors".

The constituent wrote: "You seem to equate the situation of the Palestinian people as being exactly the same as the Jewish victims of the Holocaust."

Mr Davies responded in an e-mail: "Sounds like racism to me. I hope you enjoying wallowing in your own filth."