Anthea McIntyre was named today as the new Conservative MEP for the West Midlands, the Foreign Office said.

She takes the seat after the EU ruled there should be 18 new MEPs, including three in Germany and one in the UK. It was then decided the West Midlands should get the extra seat.

The Electoral Commission was asked to decide, on the basis of the 2009, European election results, who would have won the seat had there been an extra place. She will stay in post until the next EU elections in 2014 despite the Tories opposing the European Union treaty which has allowed her to take up the seat.

In a written ministerial statement today, Europe Minister David Lidington said: "In accordance with the procedure set out in Schedule 2 of the European Union Act 2011, the returning officer has declared Anthea McIntyre to be returned as the additional MEP for the West Midlands."