Graham Watson
Graham Watson was born in Scotland, United Kingdom on 23 March 1956. He is a Liberal Democrat politician.
Political Career
Since 1994, he has served as a Member of the European Parliament for South West England, the leader of the Group of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and also the first leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. Since 2011, he has been the President of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. Sir Watson served on two committees; the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the Committee on Budgets, and acted as whip for the ELDR group until 1996. Currently, Sir Watson is a full member of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET), Chair of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with India and a member of the Parliament's delegation for relations with China. In addition, he is a highly regarded human rights campaigner and has campaigned against authoritarian regimes, the human rights record of Russia and Azerbaijan as well as taking up the cause for Northern Cyprus to be granted additional freedoms from the Greek government. Watson was knighted in the 2011 Birthday Honours for political and public service.
Education
Watson was educated at the City of Bath Boys' School, where he played violin in the school orchestra. He later returned to Scotland to attend Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh where he graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in modern languages. He speaks four European languages.
Special achievements
He was the leader of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party in the European Parliament between 2002 and 2004.
He was the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European parliament between 2004 and 2009.
He is the president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe from 2011 to present.
Awards
Watson was knighted in the 2011 Birthday Honours for political and public service.
External links
Institute for Cultural Diplomacy
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament
