This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8112581.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Conservative MEPs form new group Conservative MEPs form new group
(about 1 hour later)
Senior Tory William Hague has said the Conservatives' new "anti federalist" bloc in the European Parliament will be "good for European democracy".Senior Tory William Hague has said the Conservatives' new "anti federalist" bloc in the European Parliament will be "good for European democracy".
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.
Former Tory MEP Caroline Jackson warned it would create "bad blood" with traditional centre-right allies.Former Tory MEP Caroline Jackson warned it would create "bad blood" with traditional centre-right allies.
But Mr Hague said it would still work with the EPP group but differed from it on the extent of European integration.But Mr Hague said it would still work with the EPP group but differed from it on the extent of European integration.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One the way the Conservatives had left the European People's Party grouping had been been "perfectly amicable".He told BBC Radio 4's World at One the way the Conservatives had left the European People's Party grouping had been been "perfectly amicable".
However, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the Tories "have dragged themselves from Euro-scepticism to Euro-extremism".
'Federal Europe''Federal Europe'
He said: "We do work, on a regular basis, with President Sarkozy's party, with Chancellor Merkel's party - that doesn't mean we have to be in the same group in the European Parliament.He said: "We do work, on a regular basis, with President Sarkozy's party, with Chancellor Merkel's party - that doesn't mean we have to be in the same group in the European Parliament.
"These groups will often work together but clearly we differ with those parties about the extent of European integration."These groups will often work together but clearly we differ with those parties about the extent of European integration.
These are no marginal parties they are mainstream parties that we are very happy to work with William Hague The Tories have left the mainstream of European politics and joined forces with a rag-bag of parties with extreme views Ed DaveyLiberal Democrats
"We don't believe in the so-called federal Europe and it has got to be good for European democracy and diversity to have a grouping in the European Parliament with with we agree and can put an alternative point of view.""We don't believe in the so-called federal Europe and it has got to be good for European democracy and diversity to have a grouping in the European Parliament with with we agree and can put an alternative point of view."
The Conservatives 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 Conservatives 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 of 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 of Finland's Centre Party will also join the group, although the remainder of the party's MEPs will remain in the liberal ALDE bloc.
'Odds and sods''Odds and sods'
Ms Jackson, who stood down as an MEP on 4 June, told the BBC earlier this month she thought taking the party out of the EPP grouping was "stupid" and was swapping Europe's biggest parties for "odds and sods". Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said the Tories had chosen "ideological isolationism" over influence.
Another retiring Tory MEP, Christopher Beazley, accused Mr Cameron of trying to "rip up 30 years of work by Tory pro-Europeans". He added: "This announcement confirms that the Tories have left the mainstream of European politics and joined forces with a rag-bag of parties with extreme views."
But Mr Hague disagreed. He said the ODS - the party of former Czech PM Mirek Topolanek, who lost a confidence vote in May - were still the "leading party of the Czech Republic".But Mr Hague disagreed. He said the ODS - the party of former Czech PM Mirek Topolanek, who lost a confidence vote in May - were still the "leading party of the Czech Republic".
The PiS were "the party of the president of Poland", he said. Poland is governed by the centre-right Civic Platform.The PiS were "the party of the president of Poland", he said. Poland is governed by the centre-right Civic Platform.
Other allies in Finland, the Netherlands and Latvia were part of ruling coalitions, he added.Other allies in Finland, the Netherlands and Latvia were part of ruling coalitions, he added.
"These are no marginal parties they are mainstream parties that we are very happy to work with," he said."These are no marginal parties they are mainstream parties that we are very happy to work with," he said.
All members of the new group have signed up to the "Prague Declaration", negotiated in the Czech Republic, which argues for EU reform and opposes federalism.All members of the new group 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 and access EU funding, the Conservatives had needed to attract a minimum of 25 MEPs from at least seven states.To form a group in the European Parliament and access EU funding, the Conservatives 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.
The Tories have also been criticised for joining forces with the PiS, who have banned "sexually obscene" gay marches in Poland.The Tories have also been criticised for joining forces with the PiS, who have banned "sexually obscene" gay marches in Poland.
Mr Hague told the BBC that the PiS's attitudes to gay rights had changed.Mr Hague told the BBC that the PiS's attitudes to gay rights had changed.