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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Conservative MEPs form new group | Conservative MEPs form new group |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The UK's Conservative MEPs have formed a new "anti-federalist" European Parliament bloc. | The UK's Conservative MEPs have formed a new "anti-federalist" European Parliament bloc. |
| The new European Conservatives and Reformists Group includes 55 MEPs from across eight member states. | The new European Conservatives and Reformists Group includes 55 MEPs from across eight member states. |
| Leader David Cameron had vowed to take his MEPs out the centre-right European People's Party, saying its federalist views were against Tory policy. | Leader David Cameron had vowed to take his MEPs out the centre-right European People's Party, saying its federalist views were against Tory policy. |
| Shadow Europe Minister Mark Francois said the move was an "important new development in European politics". | Shadow Europe Minister Mark Francois said the move was an "important new development in European politics". |
| Biggest party | Biggest party |
| Mr Francois promised the new group would "make a strong case for a centre/centre-right but non-federalist future for the EU". | Mr Francois promised the new group would "make a strong case for a centre/centre-right but non-federalist future for the EU". |
| He said talks were continuing with other parties and he hoped more would join. | He said talks were continuing with other parties and he hoped more would join. |
| The Tories will be the biggest party in the new group with 26 MEPs, including Northern Ireland's Jim Nicholson of United Conservatives and Unionists - New Force. | The Tories will be the biggest party in the new group with 26 MEPs, including Northern Ireland's Jim Nicholson of United Conservatives and Unionists - New Force. |
| Others who have signed up include 15 MEPs from the Poland's Law and Justice Party (PiS), nine from the Czech Civic Democratic Party (ODS), and one each from the Dutch ChristenUnie, Latvian National Independence Movement (TB/LNNK), Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) and Belgian Lijst Dedecker (LDD). | Others who have signed up include 15 MEPs from the Poland's Law and Justice Party (PiS), nine from the Czech Civic Democratic Party (ODS), and one each from the Dutch ChristenUnie, Latvian National Independence Movement (TB/LNNK), Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) and Belgian Lijst Dedecker (LDD). |
| One member Finland's Centre Party will also join the group, although the remainder of the party's MEPs will remain in the liberal ALDE bloc. | One member Finland's Centre Party will also join the group, although the remainder of the party's MEPs will remain in the liberal ALDE bloc. |
| All members have signed up to the "Prague Declaration", negotiated in the Czech Republic, which argues for EU reform and opposes federalism. | |
| To form a group in the European Parliament, the Conservative had needed to attract a minimum of 25 MEPs from at least seven states. | |
| Mr Cameron pledged to cut the Conservatives' ties with the EPP grouping during his 2005 Conservative leadership campaign. | Mr Cameron pledged to cut the Conservatives' ties with the EPP grouping during his 2005 Conservative leadership campaign. |
| He has insisted the new grouping would "work closely with the EPP on all sorts areas where we agree", adding: "We will be happy neighbours rather than unhappy tenants." | He has insisted the new grouping would "work closely with the EPP on all sorts areas where we agree", adding: "We will be happy neighbours rather than unhappy tenants." |
| But former Conservative MEP Caroline Jackson, who stood down at the 4 June elections, said he was swapping Europe's biggest parties for "odds and sods". | But former Conservative MEP Caroline Jackson, who stood down at the 4 June elections, said he was swapping Europe's biggest parties for "odds and sods". |
| Another retiring Tory MEP, Christopher Beazley, accused Mr Cameron of trying to "rip up 30 years of work by Tory pro-Europeans". | |
| The Tories have also been criticised for joining forces with the PiS, who have banned "sexually obscene" gay marches in Poland. | |
| European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has said he "regrets" the Tories decision to leave the EPP. | European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has said he "regrets" the Tories decision to leave the EPP. |