Edward McMillan-Scott quits Conservatives over Europe policy

By Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent 800AM GMT thirteen March 2010

Edward McMillan-Scott left the Conservatives given of David Cameron"s preference to leave the European People"s Party Photo PA

Edward McMillan-Scott had already been diminished by the Tories following a row over the fondness with the European Conservatives and Reformist Party (ECR), that includes Michal Kaminski, personality of the worried Polish Law and Justice Party.

The Conservatives have regularly denied claims that he done homophobic and anti-Semitic remarks, and Mr Kaminski was invited to residence last years Tory conference.

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Mr McMillan-Scott pronounced that it was wrong for David Cameron, the Conservative leader, to join forces with with someone with an "extremist past".

His move was denounced by the Liberal Democrats at the begin of the partys open discussion in Birmingham, and described as a vital coup.

But a source close to Mr Cameron pronounced "This wasnt a desertion given he wasnt a Conservative MEP the Liberal Democrats are acquire to him."

The preference to lift out of the mainstream European Peoples Party (EPP) has valid cryptic for the Conservatives.

Before being inaugurated leader, Mr Cameron had affianced to move the celebration to a new grouping, but the fondness with the ECR, that is mostly done up of eastern European parties, has valid controversial, not slightest given of the links with Mr Kaminski.

Last year, David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, pronounced that Mr Kaminski had an "anti-Semitic, neo-Nazi past" charges that were in a huff doubtful by the Conservatives and Polish statesman himself.

During a press discussion in London, Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, pronounced that he "regretted" the Conservatives depart from EPP, pointedly adding "I sojourn assured that the on all sides of the British friends is crash in the center of Europe."

Mr McMillan-Scott, the Conservatives longest-serving MEP prior to his exclusion in September, fell out with the care after he successfully ran opposite Mr Kaminski for the vice-presidency of the European Parliament, observant that the Pole was an "inappropriate and unsuited candidate".

He had been a Tory MEP for twenty-five years and was re-elected to paint Yorkshire and the Humber in the European elections in June.

After his expulsion, Mr McMillan-Scott launched a authorised plea to be easy as a Tory, but has right away called the record off in sequence to lay with the Liberal Democrats.

He pronounced "I have been around the higher circles of the Conservative Party for prolonged sufficient to fright that on Europe Cameron says one thing in antithesis and will do an additional in Government.

"I have prolonged fought opposite autocracy and the extremism and eremite harm it brings. It was wrong of Cameron to join forces with with MEPs who have nonconformist pasts in his new European alliance."

In a minute to Mr Cameron, he combined "My reasons for fasten the Liberal Democrats are that in Nick Clegg they have a personality whom I like, admire and respect.

"They are internationalists, not nationalists. They are committed to governing body formed the values of integrity and change, but you are committed to energy for the own sake.

Welcoming Mr McMillan-Scott to the party, Mr Clegg pronounced "For most years he has fought for human rights and democracy universe far-reaching and he is righteously a reputable statesman opposite Europe.

"As someone of element he has refused to cosy up to right wing extremists, notwithstanding vigour from the Tory machine."

A Conservative orator pronounced "Edward McMillan-Scott was diminished from the Conservative Party 6 months ago for violation his choosing promises. So he should feel utterly at home with the Liberal Democrats."