Former Tory MP joins Lib Dems18 high: 26 12/03/2010, Paul Owen, conservatives, EU, guardian.co.uk, liberal democrats, news, politics, news, UK news fr

Former Tory MP joins Lib Dems18 high: 26 12/03/2010, Paul Owen, conservatives, EU, guardian.co.uk, liberal democrats, news, politics, news, UK news from the world Guardian Unlimited

Edward McMillan-Scott, David Cameron, accused of "promoting extremism abroad" and said he feared that in Europe, the Conservative leader says one thing in opposition and in government

The former leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament has defected to the Liberal Democrats, the party announced today.

Edward McMillan-Scott, David Cameron, accused of "promoting extremism abroad" and said he feared that the conservative leader said something in Europe, in private, but would do in government.

The Yorkshire and Humber MEP faced Cameron last year by conservative leader's decision to remove its members from the center-right European People's Party and create a new group, European conservatives and reformists allied with the theme Eastern Europe.

McMillan-Scott successfully opposed Michal Kaminski, Polish MEP elected to head the new group to the Vice-President of Parliament, and as a result had the Tory whip removed.

The congressman said today: "I've been around the highest circles of the Conservative Party, long enough to fear that in Europe Cameron says one thing in opposition and do another in government.

"I have long fought against totalitarianism and extremism and religious persecution that brings. Cameron was wrong to associate with members who have passed the extremists of his European alliance."

Kaminski has been accused of anti-Semitism and homophobia, which he denies, while the Latvian side of Fatherland and Liberty, also in the conservative coalition has been criticized for commemorating Latvian Waffen SS soldiers. David Miliband, Foreign Secretary, invigorated Labor Conference last year, calling the conservative ties "with such parties" disgusting. "

In his resignation letter to Cameron, McMillan-Scott said: "You say it is against extremism in the country, however, that favor overseas."

He added: "My reasons for joining the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg are they want a leader whom I admire and respect. They are internationalists, not nationalists. They are committed to the policy basis [in] the values of fairness and change .

Clegg paid tribute to his new deputy, saying: "For many years he has fought for human rights and democracy in the world and rightly respected politician in Europe. As a person of principle he refused to flatter the far right despite pressure from the conservative machine.

"This goes against the claims of David Cameron for change. This shows that people of principle who believe in justice and want a real change for Britain, is at home in the Liberal Democrats."

Labor Party leader in Parliament, Glenis Willmott said: "This news is a savage indictment of the modern Conservative Party and its European allies suspect. It just goes to show how far the Conservatives have moved away from the political mainstream.

The defection will be seen as a boost for the Liberal Democrats to begin its spring conference in Birmingham.

A Conservative party spokesman said McMillan-Scott has taken the whip "months ago" and declined comment.

Visit Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street today, Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president said he "regretted" the decision to remove Cameron Conservative European People's Party.

Edward McMillan-Scott letter to David Cameron

March 12, 2010


Dear David,


I am resigning today from my appeal against expulsion from the Conservative party and the party to join the Liberal Democrats for three reasons:


1. I've been around the highest circles of the party long enough, and recently has worked in the Euro-elections and committees of the overall election strategy in the GCC, to know that Euroscepticism is at the heart of the most conservative . His decision to separate from the mainstream of the EPP and create the group of P. new has been universally condemned, even by right-wing pundits, including The Economist, as "poor, the alliance of shame". You say you will "knock on Europe and their spokesperson hot make noise. But I fear that in Europe, saying one thing in opposition and do another in government.


2. Still refuses to accept that Michal Kaminski, who now leads the collection and against which he stood up and won reelection as vice president of the European Parliament last July, has had "anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist" Links. "You say he's against extremism in the country, however, who favor abroad.


3. My family, friends and people working with me all confirm that I have tried in good faith an amicable settlement of my dispute at all levels in the game. I have written several times without response and have continued the appeals process which was presented to me in the expectation of declining equity. I stated my case, just in the media. Last weekend his lawyers made clear that the appeal will be handled by you, despite its claims to public decency and justice. As my friend Henry Porter put in the observer, his response was "thugs and panic." You say one thing publicly and doing another in private.


My reasons for joining the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg are they want a leader whom I admire and respect. They are internationalists, not nationalists. They are committed to the policy based on [in] the values of equity and change, but are committed to the power for his own good.


Yours sincerely,


Edward McMillan-Scott MEP

Vice-President of Parliament, responsible for human rights and democracy

Liberal Democrats
Conservatives
European Union
Paul Owen


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