Tories have lost control of their new group in the European Parliament - 2009-07-15

At a meeting last night, Timothy Kirkhope MEP lost the leadership of the "European Conservatives and Reformist Group", which was only founded less than a month ago.

The "European Conservatives and Reformist Group" is now lead by Michał Kamiński, an MEP from the Polish Law and Justice Party. The Polish Law and Justice Party has  drawn widespread criticism for its attitude to gay rights. One of its MPs sparked outrage for his comments that President Obama's election would mean "an impending catastrophe, the end of the civilisation of the white man". Some of the politicians David Cameron's MEPs choose to align with are reportedly climate change deniers, believe that homosexuality is a 'pathology' and are former members of the extreme right League of Polish Families.

Glenis Willmott MEP, Labour's Leader in Europe, commented: "The Tories in the European Parliament sit in splendid isolation with controversial allies that are a far cry from the mainstream. It was only going to be a matter of time until the real splits in the Tory delegation became apparent and the whole group will fall apart."

› Back