hˌævɪŋ ʌnsəksˈɛsfəli fˈɔːt ʃˈɛfiːld sˈɛntɹəl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi θɹˈiː ænd dˈɑːŋkæstɚ sˈɛntɹəl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən, ɹˈɔːlɪŋz wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd æt ðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən ᵻlˈɛkʃən æz ðɪ ˌɛmˌiːpˈiː fɔːɹ ˈɛsɪks sˈaʊθ wˈɛst.
Having unsuccessfully fought Sheffield Central in 1983 and Doncaster Central in 1987, Rawlings was elected at the 1989 European election as the MEP for Essex South West.