Comment Is Free 22 October 2009

Even Conservatives need Europe

Tory ideas helped build the EU. The growing Euroscepticism of Cameron's party will only damage Britain

During the 1975 referendum on the EEC, a previous generation at the Oxford Union took part in shaping history. The televised debate was on a motion that "This House would say 'Yes' to Europe": it was carried by 493 votes to 92 – an overwhelming verdict. In the event, the referendum was carried nationally by a two-thirds majority – as I think it would today. This week I summed up for the opposition in another Oxford Union debate on the motion that "This House believes that there is life after Brussels". The event was sponsored by the Eurosceptic Taxpayers' Alliance, and to their dismay resulted in a 148 to 77 victory for my pro-European side against veteran anti-EU Tory MP Bill Cash.

Part of my case was that the options for Eurosceptics are running out. The capricious Czech president Vaclav Klaus, on whom some rely for a delay until after Britain's general election, warned in an interview with the Czech newspaper Lidove Noviny: "I cannot and will not wait for British elections, unless they hold them in the next few days or weeks." Read more..

20 September 2009

'I was the victim of Tory smears', says Edward McMillan-Scott

By Melissa Kite, Deputy Political Editor

Edward McMillan-Scott, the senior Tory expelled from the Conservative Party following a row over European policy, has accused David Cameron of resorting to Damian McBride-style tactics to smear his name. Mr McMillan-Scott, the former vice president of the European parliament [webmaster note: this is incorrect; he is still Vice-President], claimed that eight Tory press officers had been employed in a campaign against him.

He said that he had been “hounded and pilloried” over his opposition to the Conservatives’ hard-line, Right-wing allies in Strasbourg, whom he claimed have “homophobic links”.

He said that the Tory leader had decided to make an example of him to warn those with similar views “not to rock the boat”. Read more

'Comment Is Free' September 17 2009

Punished for challenging extremism

I warned the Conservatives about Michal Kaminski before I stood against him in Europe. They should not have expelled me .

I was shocked to be expelled from the Conservative party on Tuesday without notice. I had already lost the whip in July for winning re-election as vice-president of the European parliament against Michal Kaminski MEP, the Pole with an extremist past who now leads David Cameron's new European Conservative and Reformists (ECR) group.

Extreme right parties like the BNP did well in June's Euro-elections in 13 out of the EU's 27 countries. But my stand was against Kaminski, who negotiated the deal with Cameron and used it to make his controversial Polish party respectable. This represents the rise of disguised extremism – the widespread "entryism" into mainstream parties that must be stopped.

As I said on the BBC's Today programme (which said I could not discuss Kaminski), to lose the whip on a point of principle is no shame – as Harold MacMillan did in 1937 for opposing appeasement. But to be expelled for it is outrageous. Read more

CONSERVATIVES MUST PUBLISH WHAT THEY KNEW - McMillan-Scott replies to expulsion Sept 15

Commenting on the decision of the Conservative Party to expel him Edward McMillan-Scott commented (July 15):

"I am shocked that the party took this step without informing me and in the knowledge that there is an ongoing legal issue about an attempt to smear me in which I understand party officials were involved.

"After 42 years in the party, 25 as an MEP and four years as Leader of the MEPs the party should trust me not to make political mistakes.
"The issue is my standing and winning on July 14 on a point of principle against a wholly inappropriate and unsuitable candidate as Vice-President of the European Parliament, imposed as part of David Cameron's new European group.

On August 10, William Hague wrote to McMillan-Scott in unprecedented terms between senior Conservatives. He publicised his letter, including on ConservativeHome, which included terms for restoration of the whip (see explanation here). Even ConservativeHome found them 'humiliating'.

"I will not be a scapegoat for this.

"As I said then and repeat now, Michal Kaminski has had anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist links and it is tragic that the Conservative Party has descended to defending him. The party must now publish what it knew about Kaminski. The truth is coming out about him - and there will no doubt be more.
"David Cameron has been exploited by those in his party who want Britain to leave Europe: I want Britain to lead in Europe. 

 "I shall be appealing against this decision".

_______________________________________________________________

McMillan-Scott replies to William Hague - published September 15 before his expulsion

On the opening of the European Parliament's session in Strasbourg on July 15, McMillan-Scott published his reply:

Rt Hon William Hague MP

Dear William,

As the European Parliament is once again in session, I am replying to your letter of August 10 about my win against Michal Kaminski MEP as Vice-President of the European Parliament on July 14. I cite my Open Letter of July 24 ‘Restore the whip – a matter of principle’  http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/opinion/Edward-McMillanScott-Why-we-must.5511417.jp 'Why we must stop rise of a new face of fascism’ in which I refer to Mr Kaminski’s anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist links: I stand by both. ww.emcmillanscott.com/resources/A+matter+of+principle+-+restore+the+whip.jpgw  and my Yorkshire Post article on July 31

You say I did not warn the Party about Mr Kaminski. Wrong. On learning the composition of the new ECR Group on June 22 I did so in terms at the well-attended inaugural meeting, chaired by Timothy Kirkhope and attended by Mr Kaminski, on June 24 http://www.eureporter.co.uk/story/new-conservative-group-united:  saying "I hope no MEP in the new group has had links with extremist movements like Poland's National Revival [NOP http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Revival_of_Poland– a neo-Nazi group]." I also referred to its political incoherence, now amplified by the discovery  http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/aug/09/cameron-kaminski-lisbon-treatythat Mr Kaminski is pro-Lisbon Treaty and pro-CAP.

On June 25 reference to Mr Kaminski’s membership of NOP was taken from his Wikipedia page and mine was edited by the same hand to paint me as a disloyal Euro-fanatic, which I am not. Despite many requests, I so far gave only one interview to the BBC’s ‘Parliament’ programme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt3iaTwVirw one to ‘PM’ and one to the Sunday Telegraph. I said I hope that David Cameron will be the next PM.

Your approach appears to be based on your assertion that ‘all the allegations you have made, are, as has now been proven, untrue.’ I have seen nothing which allows you to make that judgment. My own desk research was completed on July 13 with the fortuitous assistance of a Polish-speaking US intern and coincides with what has been published in the media e.g. 'Row over Tory link to Polish right grows'. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/26/conservative-party-alliance-michal-kaminski

As the Party claims to have researched the ECR partners’ backgrounds, please publish this now, especially on Mr Kaminski.

You accuse me of ‘smearing’. Leaving aside the activity of Tory press officers www.newstatesman.com/blogs/public-accounts/2009/08/desperate-lows-tory-stooping Dan Hannan’s Daily Telegraph blog  http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100005218/accusing-euro-sceptics-of-anti-semitism-is-the-most-shameful-tactic-yet/on July 31 “Accusing Euro-sceptics of anti-Semitism is the most shameful tactic yet” in tone and content anticipated an article printed in the Telegraph on Friday August 7 by Stephen Pollard “Anti-Semitic mudslinging of the worst kind” records of which have been removed at my solicitors’ request. Neither article, or anything else published, has refuted Kaminski’s political record.

My loyalty is not blind: I stood on a matter of principle.  The Conservative whip should be restored.

McMillan-Scott re-elected as Vice-President of the European Parliament "breaking system"(July 14)

Commenting after his re-election on July 14 as Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr Edward McMillan-Scott MEP (Yorkshire & The Humber), the first ever to to break the group system of nominations, said:

"The public want to see transparency and real democracy among their parliamentarians, in Brussels or Westminster.

'Standing as an independent candidate - and for the values of democracy and human rights which I have worked through the EU to promote worldwide - I have made a start.

"Rather than withdrawing the whip, David Cameron should be pleased that a Tory is still at the top in Europe."

Edward McMillan-Scott "uncomfortable" with new group (June 25)

Commenting on an article in the Daily Telegraph online (June 25), Edward McMillan-Scott publishes below a statement he gave to Brussels blog EU Reporter on June 24: the same comments were made to The Parliament blog and apperared in the Daily Telegraph:

"Mr Edward McMillan-Scott (Conservative), a Vice-President in the outgoing parliament who was re-elected top of the list in Yorkshire denied rumours that he would stay in the majority EPP group.

"At the inaugural meeting of the European Conservative and Reformist group in Brussels (June 24) McMillan-Scott, who re-negotiated the association with the EPP in 1999 while leader of the Conservative MEPs (William Hague MP was leader of the Conservative Party), said he would have preferred an even more detached relationship with the EPP, especially after Italy's right-wing Alleanza Nazionale joined it.