Hitler comment Tory awaits fate

Tory euro-group leader Giles Chichester said on Thursday that he was studying the exact remarks and would decide on what to do, "if anything".

Mr Hannan's remarks caused uproar in the European Parliament chamber, followed by threats to expel Mr Hannan from the EPP group of centre-right MEPs.

But on Thursday night Mr Hannan insisted he had never used the "H word" and said he had been assured of his continued place in the UK Tory group of MEPs, who sit with the EPP.

He offered apologies for any offence caused to the President, Hans-Gert Poettering, saying: "I do not compare anyone to Nazis. I would certainly make no such comparison with Hans-Gert Poettering who, as I have always acknowledged, has an honourable record of opposition to totalitarianism, and who tragically lost his own father in the war.

"I am sorry if I hurt his feelings."

Despite Mr Hannan's apology, Labour euro-group leader Gary Titley called for David Cameron and the Tory party to distance themselves from his remarks. "David Cameron should reflect on whether such people like Hannan, so close to the right-wing extremists, should be representing the Conservative Party.

"By comparing the ruling of the President of the European Parliament with the law that gave unlimited power to Hitler during the week of Holocaust Memorial Day, Hannan is dishonouring memories of the victims of terror of the Nazi regime."

The row erupted after weeks of tension over moves by Mr Hannan and a group of MEPs to stage protests against the EU's reform treaty, and the lack of referendums on its contents.

Mr Hannan, MEP for South East England, has been involved in filibuster tactics, using procedural rules to demand speaking time to make points of order and give explanations of voting, and insisting on seldom-used roll-call votes.