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David Cameron was accused of "Euro extremism" today as the Tories allied themselves to a string of tiny nationalist parties in the Strasbourg Parliament.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague defended the move as he announced that Tories would be part of a new 55-strong "anti-federalist" political group in the European Parliament.
The Conservatives rejected suggestions that one ally, the Latvian Fatherland and Freedom Party, or TB-LNNK, was linked to former Latvian members of Nazi SS units. But Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "The Conservatives under David Cameron's leadership have dragged themselves from Euro scepticism to Euro extremism.
"By removing the Conservatives from other mainstream centre-right parties in Europe, he has isolated his party and potentially this country."
Mr Hague rejected the claim, and said the Tories would still work with the more federalist centre-right parties.
The new grouping brings together centre-right MEPs from eight EU countries under the name "European Conservatives and Reformists Group", with the UK Tory faction as the biggest single national element.
The group is likely to be the fourth largest bloc in the new European Parliament. Second largest will be the 15 MEPs from Poland's Law and Justice Party, followed by nine MEPs from the Czech Republic's ODS (Civil Democrats).
LNNK has been criticised for attending annual commemorations of Latvian nationalists killed in the Second World War. One Tory source said today the allegation was "a nasty smear", adding: "LNNK, like other mainstream Latvian parties, are a decent democratic party and have nothing to do with fascism". Defenders of LNNK say tens of thousands of Latvians were forcibly conscripted by the Nazis.
Former Tory MEPs today attacked the move. Christopher Beazley accused Mr Cameron of trying to "rip up 30 years of work by Tory pro-Europeans". And Caroline Jackson called the move "stupid", and warned it would create "bad blood" with the Tories' traditional centre-right allies in Europe.
One of Mr Cameron's first pledges as Tory leader was to pull Tory MEPs out of a long-standing alliance with the mainstream centre-right European People's Party - still the dominant force in the new European Parliament.
In doing so he ignored pleas from centre-right leaders across Europe, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as warnings from some of his own MEPs that they would be marginalised and powerless.
Reader views (4)
My political compass is so battered and bruised I don't know whether I am coming or going anymore. I'm surprised the Tories are now sailing the anti EU ship after years of public ( and not so public) promotion of it.
As for the extremists, Europe is awash with them. Nothing new there. They come, they go...none of them ever add up to much in the long term. They crow a lot about "success" but the politics of hate has a built in shelf life. In the EU Parliament, they're seen as nothing more than pieces in on a chessboard. Use them or lose them before the in-fighting begins is the common tactic.
Here at home there will inevitably be a Tory government in the next few years. We'll see what their stance on the EU is when they have power. Cynical I know, but once bitten twice shy and all that. For all the complaining that we've seen on a regular basis from all sides, every treaty has thus far still been ratified regardless.
Speaking from outside of the political class, I just wish the goalposts would stay still long enough for me to figure out what the hell is going on in my name!
- Londoner, London, England
Should we ask who Labour sits with communists and far left the EPP wants federalisation The United Kingdom does not agree with this besides if they appear to be extreem the Conservatives will dampen that down Milliband does not know what he is talking about, Anything which protects our sovereignty and stops Brussels taking over EVERTHING is ok. It seems funny that an aweful lot of people wish to join the new party and remember Poland Lat via etc ha ve laready shaken off communist shackles they do not want any more shackles on again. The EU is not now what it was intended for at least not what I voted for which was trade and protection from aggressors
- Jacqui Williams, peterborough cambs
Mr Millipede ignores the fact that of the British electorate that voted, SIXTY PERCENT, voted for parties against the federal EU. A VERY clear message.
Politicians who ignore the democratic will of the people are simply storing up trouble for themselves.
Cameroon may be too Blair like for my taste but he is listening.
So Millibrain where's OUR promised Lisbon Con-treaty vote?
Meanwhile Brown is away with the fruit loops if he thinks twitter could prevent genocide.
- Ethan, UK
"Extremist party link," that's bit rich isn't.....but if it means that Cameron intends to get us out of the EU, then he certainly has my vote.
- Lloyd, Glan Conwy UK.
