WEST Devon-based Conservative Euro MP the Earl of Stockton looks likely to lose his seat in the European Parliament at the next election, following a lowly placing on a shortlist of Tory candidates.

The Earl of Stockton became an MEP for the South West region in the European elections in 1999, but his chances of being returned in two years? time look slim.

The Earl, who lives near Lewdown, has been placed fifth on the Conservative Party?s list of candidates for the June 2004 European elections, following a reselection process among party members.

He was one of a number of Tory Euro MPs targeted by the right wing Bruges Group ? whose honorary president is Baroness Thatcher ? over allegations they had ?gone native?. He has spoken in favour of Britain?s entry into the European single currency.

The Earl said he felt some party members had dismissed him as ?too old, too rich and too European?.

He said the fact he could speak a number of European languages and spent a lot of time abroad was not welcomed by the Eurosceptic section of the party.

His membership of pro-European groups and belief in a common European defence policy also made him a target for the right-wing group, he said.

The Earl said in politics the situation could always change, but he felt it was ?unlikely? he would be able to continue as a Euro MP after the next election, although he felt there was still ?more to be done?.

The reselection list was drawn up following a series of hustings in the region where party members ranked the prospective candidates in order of preference. Fewer than 600 party members chose the party?s candidates to represent a vast region of 5.5-million people.

The Earl, grandson of former Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, said he was not surprised by the low turnout at the four meetings, as many of the key issues in Europe were complex legal ones, which were ?fascinating? but not the sort of topics which were discussed in the ?Dog and Duck?.

?I don?t think what we said or how we performed had any impact, people had already made up their mind who they would vote for,? he said.

Under the list system used in European elections, voters choose a party rather than an individual candidate, with Euro MPs chosen in the order they appear on a party?s list.

The Earl said the Euro was still an issue for voters: ?I am concerned about the way the economy of continental Europe is heading, and it will get more difficult with enlargement.?

But he believed the enlargement process was ?very important? and something Western European states were obliged to do.

At the last elections in 1999, the Tories did well in the South West, taking four of the region?s seven European seats. They face a fight to repeat that success in 2004, as the region loses one seat as part of the European Union enlargement process.

Somerset farmer Neil Parish topped the Conservative?s South West list and is almost certain to be re-elected in 2004, with Caroline Jackson securing second place.

Giles Chichester is in a more vulnerable position, third on the list. The Tories will need to have a good election result if he is to be retain his seat. A new candidate, Richard Graham, was chosen at number four on the ballot paper.