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Defiant Tory MEP loses party whip Defiant Tory MEP loses party whip
(1 day later)
A senior Tory MEP has had the whip withdrawn after defying orders on the party's first day of work with its new "anti-federalist" group.A senior Tory MEP has had the whip withdrawn after defying orders on the party's first day of work with its new "anti-federalist" group.
Edward McMillan-Scott, who used to lead the Tory MEPs group, decided to stand as a vice president in Strasbourg. Edward McMillan-Scott stood against the new ECR group's official candidate, a Polish MEP, for one of the European Parliament vice presidencies, and won.
But the Tories have joined a new group in the European Parliament, whose official candidate was a Polish MEP. He had opposed the Tory decision to leave the main EPP centre-right group.
Mr McMillan-Scott, who opposed the Tory decision to leave the main centre-right EPP group, was successful in his bid. The BBC understands the Tories' Polish allies were furious and were placated by being handed the group's leadership.
He said party leader David Cameron should be pleased, rather than withdrawing the party whip. Mr Cameron had long promised to remove Tory MEPs from the main European People's Party centre right grouping, saying its federalist views were at odds with Conservative policy.
Official nomineeOfficial nominee
Mr Cameron had long promised to remove Tory MEPs from the main European People's Party grouping, saying its federalist views were at odds with Conservative policy.
But to access EU funding they had to be part of a group in the European Parliament with a minimum of 25 MEPs from at least seven states.But to access EU funding they had to be part of a group in the European Parliament with a minimum of 25 MEPs from at least seven states.
The Tories formed a new grouping last month - the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECRG) - made up of 55 MEPs from eight countries.The Tories formed a new grouping last month - the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECRG) - made up of 55 MEPs from eight countries.
Rather than withdrawing the whip, David Cameron should be pleased that a Tory is still at the top in Europe Edward McMillan-Scott
But as members of the ECRG took their seats on Tuesday at the start of a five-year term, Mr McMillan-Scott made clear he would be standing for the vice president post - even though he was not its official nominee.But as members of the ECRG took their seats on Tuesday at the start of a five-year term, Mr McMillan-Scott made clear he would be standing for the vice president post - even though he was not its official nominee.
Rather than withdrawing the whip, David Cameron should be pleased that a Tory is still at the top in Europe Edward McMillan-Scott
In a statement the UK Tory group said he had had the whip withdrawn at that point and it was "not expected" he could remain part of the ECRG grouping.In a statement the UK Tory group said he had had the whip withdrawn at that point and it was "not expected" he could remain part of the ECRG grouping.
"He was offered the opportunity to withdraw his name to avoid harming the reputation of the Conservative Party," it said."He was offered the opportunity to withdraw his name to avoid harming the reputation of the Conservative Party," it said.
"Despite discussions and attempts to achieve this end, he went ahead and confirmed his nomination when voting commenced."Despite discussions and attempts to achieve this end, he went ahead and confirmed his nomination when voting commenced.
"At that point as he had received prior warning of the consequences and the Conservative whip was withdrawn.""At that point as he had received prior warning of the consequences and the Conservative whip was withdrawn."
But Mr McMillan-Scott, an MEP since 1984, dismissed suggestions he would return to the EPP grouping as an independent. Chairmanship deal
It was reported that Tory leader David Cameron had phoned Mr McMillan-Scott and asked him to respect a deal in which Polish MEP Michael Kaminski, part of the new ECR group, would get the vice presidency while Tory MEP leader Timothy Kirkhope would be voted in as chairman of the new group.
But on Wednesday it emerged that the chairmanship would go to an MEP from Poland's Law and Justice Party, after Mr Kirkhope reportedly agreed to stand aside.
Despite some very magnanimous words from Mr Kirkhope this morning supporting his new group leader, it must have been a bitter pill to swallow, given the work he had personally put in to set the group up in the first place Dominic Hughes's Strasbourg diary
The Tories are the biggest party in the new grouping, with 26 MEPs of the total 55. Poland's Law and Justice Party is the second biggest with 15 MEPs.
The BBC's Europe reporter Dominic Hughes said the Tories had argued that the new grouping would give them a greater voice in Europe but now it was its Polish chairman who would get valuable guaranteed speaking time in debates. The Tories may also miss out on powerful committee chairmanships as a result, he added.
Mr McMillan-Scott, an MEP since 1984, dismissed suggestions he would return to the EPP grouping as an independent.
He said: "The public wants to see transparency and real democracy from their parliamentarians - in Brussels or Westminster.He said: "The public wants to see transparency and real democracy from their parliamentarians - in Brussels or Westminster.
"Standing as an independent candidate, for the values of democracy and human rights which I have worked to promote worldwide, I have made a start."Standing as an independent candidate, for the values of democracy and human rights which I have worked 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.""Rather than withdrawing the whip, David Cameron should be pleased that a Tory is still at the top in Europe."
The Tories' decision to leave the main EPP group has been criticised by Labour and the Lib Dems - and some Tories.The Tories' decision to leave the main EPP group has been criticised by Labour and the Lib Dems - and some Tories.
Former Tory MEP Caroline Jackson said it was "stupid" and the party was swapping an alliance with Europe's biggest parties for "odds and sods".Former Tory MEP Caroline Jackson said it was "stupid" and the party was swapping an alliance with Europe's biggest parties for "odds and sods".