This page is devoted to the problems caused by David Cameron's controversial decision to leave Europe's centre-right mainstream EPP and team up with extremist parties. One of its MEPs, the Pole Michal Kaminski - who has recent anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist links (see Kaminski Uncovered) - now leads the Tories in the European Parliament. Edward was expelled from the Party for standing against him, which caused a media furore. The whole saga is below. Edward McMillan-Scott joins LibDems: READ HERE Lawyers' letters show Conservative refusal to be open On 5 March, Edward McMillan-Scott received a letter from the Conservative Party's lawyers herebased on which his own lawyers - Russell Jones & Walker, the best in their field - advised that there was no chance of him being granted a fair hearing at a final panel on March 18. Edward decided to withdraw from the appeal, resign from the Party and join the Liberal Democrats. Read his lawyers' press release about the legal points here. See also the letter from Edward's lawyers seeking disclosure of information about his expulsion hereand in a later letter here. The Conservative Party refused this information and so Edward has applied for it under the Data Protection Act. Kaminski Uncovered  This political profile of Michal Kaminski is based on web research by Edward McMillan-Scott and largely completed before he stood against Kaminski, sometimes using Google Translate from Polish. It now includes Kaminski's "denials" and other reactions in red. To read please click here.
Listen to how Michal Kaminski behaved over Jedwabne apology - BBC Radio 4
This is the whole saga of Conservative lack of values on Europe, inexperience and political mismanagement  On July 14 2009 Edward McMillan-Scott stood and won re-election as Vice-President of the European Parliament against the "official" candidate of David Cameron's new ECR group, a Pole - Michal Kaminski - with anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist links. The Conservative whip was withdrawn.
On August 10, William Hague wrote to McMillan-Scott in unprecedented terms between senior Conservatives. He publicised his letter, including on the 'independent' blog ConservativeHome, which included terms for restoration of the whip. Even ConHome found them 'humiliating'. The letter contained no deadline for a reply.
On the opening of the European Parliament's session in Strasbourg on September 15, McMillan-Scott published his reply.
One the same day, without even meeting, the Conservative Party board expelled McMillan-Scott, a member for 42 years, an MEP for 25 and Leader of the Conservative MEPs for four years, without notification, consultation or explanation. He immediately appealed the decision and said: "I am shocked that after 42 years in the Party, 25 as an MEP, four years as Leader of the Tory MEPs and three on the Board itself that such a vengeful and fruitless decision can be taken by an exchange of emails. This will not affect my parliamentary work or my work for constituents, whom I look forward to serving during the next five years." On 5 March, Edward McMillan-Scott received a letter from the Conservative Party's lawyers herebased on which his own lawyers - Russell Jones & Walker, the best in their field - advised that there was no chance of him being granted a fair hearing at a final panel on March 18. Edward decided to withdraw from the appeal, resign from the Party and join the Liberal Democrats. The story so far ....
On July 14 Edward McMillan-Scott stood against a Polish MEP, Michal Kaminski, who was the 'official' nominee of the new European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, created by David Cameron to redeem a ple dge to win the votes of Europhobes during his leadership campaign. In reality, Kaminski was nominated by Timothy Kirkhope, leader of the Conservative MEPs in a deal under which Kirkhope was to become leader of the ECR without election. McMillan-Scott was urged to stand by NGOs and people to whom he had given a voice through his position as Vice-President since 2004. He stated that Kaminski was a 'wholly unsuitable and inappropriate' candidate for Vice-President because he 'has had anti-semitic, homophobic and racist links'.
McMillan-Scott warned the ECR at its first meeting that he was 'uncomfortable' as some of its MEPs could have extremist links. After losing as Vice-President, Kaminski replaced Timothy Kirkhope MEP as leader of the ECR - Kirkhope had nominated himself to the post that day - after a deal between London and Warsaw. The following day , Kaminski was caught out by the BBC dissembling about his extremist past. McMillan-Scott was also interviewed (left).
On the final of third rounds of voting, McMillan-Scott gained 244 votes against Kaminski's 174. He was the first-ever independent Vice-President to be elected since the European Parliament was founded in 1973. The Conservative whip was withdrawn from McMillan-Scott by Kirkhope, who began a camapign to expunge McMillan-Scott from Conservative activities in Yorkshire & The Humber, the region they both represent.
After his win McMillan-Scott said:
"The public want to see transparency and real democracy among their parliamentarians, in Brussels or Westminster.
'Standing as an independent candidate - and for the values of democracy and human rights for which I have worked through the EU 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." A matter of principle - restore the whip
Edward McMillan-Scott called for the restoration of the Conservative whip on July 24 in an open letter "A matter of principle - restore the whip".
"After all the scandals in the House of Commons, no-one lost the Conservative whip except Derek Conway. When I make a stand on a matter of principle - not working with extremists in Europe - the whip is withdrawn." he said.
In an article commissioned by the Yorkshire Post, and published on July 31, "Why we must stop rise of a new face of fascism" Edward explained his motives in greater detail read here BACKGROUND
Edward fully complied with his Euro-Election manifesto commitment to leave the EPP and join the new European Reformists and Conservatives (ECR) Group, and only said on the BBC's Today programme in the run-up to the election "I am convinced that David Cameron will not send us to the wilder shores of European politics, and I am committed to the choices he makes" - as all Tory MEPs took a blind pledge.
But the Tory Manifesto only said that the Czech ODS (Centre) Party would join. Just prior to the European election, David Cameron announced in Warsaw that the controversial homophobic, nationalist PiS (Law and Justice) Party would join too, along with some individuals from the Baltics and Low Countries. The formal announcement of the composition of the ECR was only made on June 22. Until then, the Party said 'we will not give a running commentary on negotiations.'
Dan Hannan: wrong on the NHS, Enoch Powell, Obama and the EU
The new group was pledged by Cameron in 2005 to a group of Europhobes to win votes in his leadership bid. Since 1998, anti-EU MEP Dan Hannan has been pushing the notion that an alternative to the centrist majority EPP could be found. The EPP contains all the mainstream parties like the Swedish Conservatives (who currently run the EU presidency), CDU, CSU, 'Gaullists' etc.
Dan Hannan - a former vice-chairman of the Campaign for an Independent Britain and now a member of Better Off Out, has recently made difficulties for David Cameron with his attack on the NHS, his hero-worship of Enoch Powell, his description of President Obama as 'exotic' during the race row and his declaration that he wants Britain out of the EU.
At the inaugural meeting of ECR in Brussels on June 24, Edward - who as the leader of the Tory MEPs created in 1999 with William Hague the previous link to the majority EPP Group - said he was 'uncomfortable' on seeing the full ECR group. He said that if its only coherence was 'anti-federalism' this was something over which MEPs had no powers. He also said he foresaw it would divide on moral questions, like genetics, embryology and sexual politics.
He also hoped none had links 'with extremist groups like Poland's National Revival'. The following day, reference to Kaminki's membership of NOP was removed by the same hand which altered McMillan-Scott's to portray him as a disloyal federalist .
Kaminski's anti-semitic, homophobic, racist links
Web research shows that Kaminski had an extremist past, including being a member for three years of National Revival. According to the Daily Telegraph, which quotes as NOP spokesman, Kaminski was a member from 17 - 20 years' old and not as he claims as a 'schoolboy'. The British media have since confirmed McMillan-Scott's research, which was completed the evening before he stood. When the nomination was confirmed on July 14, Edward stood against him (see website published on the day of the election www.EdwardForVP.eu ) .
Double standards
In a burst of double standards, the Euro-Tory whip was withdrawn from Edward by his Yorkshire colleague and current leader of the MEPs Timothy Kirkhope (right) and he was expelled from the ECR. The follo wing day another UK Conservative MEP stood as an unauthorised candidate for the post of Quaestor ('Bursar') but no action was taken. Two other Tory MEPs who warned that the Conservative Group's Rules of Procedure (which require elections for nominations for parliamentary posts) had been waived by Timothy Kirkhope, and who were aiming at the Vice-President post were leant on and withdrew, rewarded with committee posts. Timothy Kirkhope organised a campaign to expunge McMillan-Scott - who had easily won first ranking in a postal ballot of Yorkshire Conservatives against Kirkhope. This included sending McMillan-Scott's staff 'to Coventry', removing all references to him from Conservative offices, publicity etc and meetings. This contrasts with Kirkhope's inaction in Roger Helmer's neighbouring region of East Midlands when the latter also lost the whip. _________________________________________________________ | Click here for comprehensive links to media comment on David Cameron's new European Conservatives and Reformists group, its leader Michal Kaminski and Edward McMillan-Scott's stand. After recent developments in the ECR group, in which Timothy Kirkhope attempted to impose himself as co-leader without consultation of other group members (you can read the letter to ECR MEPs from Timothy Kirkhope and Michal Kaminski here), a member responded with the following email that can be read here. Recent mediaJune 14: As crunch EU summit looms, Milliband and Huhne - who used last year's party conference platforms to savage Cameron's decision to quit the EPP and team up with what Nick Clegg called a 'bunch of nutters' - again lament Cameron's decision to quite the mainstream. Former UK foreign secretary and Labour leadership contender David Milliband told BBC TV that David Cameron would not 'be in the room' when key EU decisions are taken at EU summits such as that on June 18 - and Chris Huhne, a LibDem member of the shadow cabinet urged in the Independent on Sunday Cameron to rejoin the EPP. 
Conservatives ignored secret report on extremist Polish allies 11 April 2010David Cameron forged his controversial EU alliance with rightwing Polish politicians despite a secret report by his own party which warned that they had homophobic and nationalistic tendencies, senior EU figures have told the Observer.. Read more... Edward McMillan-Scott explains his move to the LibDems in the Easter issue of Europe's Parliament Magazine: "From being a liberal Conservative, I have become a conservative Liberal" Read here
 Watch Edward and Nick Clegg interviewed at the Liberal Democrats Spring Conference in Birmingham on the BBC Politics Show here.
Own goal as Tories force out a decent manby Bernard Dineen THE departure of the former leader of the Tory MEPs, Edward McMillan-Scott, to join the LibDems is a sad business. He hasn't "defected": he was forced out. The trouble began when a would-be Palmerston in the Tory leadership decided to engage in European power politics. This juvenile exercise involved withdrawing from a mainstream EU group and joining a ragbag alliance of East Europeans At a stroke, it offended European conservatives and provided an excellent opportunity for the Left to smear the new "allies". Given the nature of recent East European history, that wasn't difficult. It was supposed to strike a blow against federalism; instead, it has proved a disaster. Read more...
Edward McMillan-Scott: After my unjust expulsion, I'm quitting the Conservatives for a party of fairness and change 12 March 2010
YORKSHIRE and North Lincolnshire have not lost an MEP, but they have lost a Conservative. I have joined the Liberal Democrats at their Birmingham conference this weekend.
I was expelled, subject to appeal, from the Conservative Party last year after a dispute over David Cameron's controversial new EU partners. My appeal has been a long one-sided process which I at least have undertaken in good faith. Read more...
Conservative defector condemns party's 'vile letter' and hostility towards EuropeMEP Edward McMillan-Scott accuses Tories of euro-scepticism and 'double standards' for expelling him while only suspending Lord Archer - Toby Helm and Anushka Asthana The Observer, Sunday 14 March 2010 The former leader of the Tories in Europe launches a scathing attack on David Cameron's Conservatives today, accusing them of "visceral euroscepticism", "twisted" thinking and bullying tactics that forced him out of the party.
Edward McMillan-Scott, who defected to the Liberal Democrats on Friday, has also accused the Tories of "extraordinary double standards" for expelling him permanently, having only suspended Lord Archer, who was sentenced to four years in prison for perjury in 2001. Read more... Mother was a BlackshirtIn January Edward's aunt Diana Bailey revealed on BBC Radio 4 the reason for his lifelong opposition to totalitarianism and the religious persecution it brings, the fact that his maternal grandparents were interned by Churchill as senior members of Sir Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts. You can listen here or read here. 
What happened to Conservative values? Guardian Comment is Free Sat Jan 16 2009 Since I was expelled from the party for standing up to extremism, my former party's MEPs have lost their way in Europe Read more...
Tuesday, 5 January 2010 Denis MacShane: Go to the theatre to see what a Tory future would be like 'The Misanthrope' mocks the faux morality of the sun king's court Want to peep into a Tory future-land? Forget the pundits, columnists, Compassites, Progressites, and Fabianites. Instead buy a theatre or film ticket and all will be revealed. Read more... This is the actual script of 'The Misanthrope'.  Watch The BBC Politics Show Yorks and Lincs discuss Edward McMillan-Scott's expulsion and appeal on Nov 29
 Watch Kaminski described as an anti-Semite on BBC TV's Newsnight report broadcast on November 23
Apology to Edward McMillan-Scott published in the Daily Telegraph 19 November
Edward McMillan-Scott MEP
Following our article "Anti-Semitic mudslinging of the worst kind" by Stephen Pollard (Aug 7), we wish to make clear that in the piece we did not intend to allege that Edward McMillan-Scott had raised concerns about Michal Kaminski's background and suitability to become vice-president of the European Parliament which he knew to be false. Mr McMillan-Scott continues to hold the concerns he has expressed, while at the same time Mr Pollard continues to believe that Mr McMillan-Scott's concerns are misplaced. We have apologised to Mr McMillan-Scott for any embarrassment caused by any contrary impression our article may have given. By Tim Whewell BBC Newsnight UK Conservative leader David Cameron's choice of partners in Europe has excited major controversy in Britain in recent months.
They have been called "a collection of outcasts" by UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and "repellent" by the vice-president of the European Parliament, Edward McMillan-Scott, who has now been expelled from the Conservative Party. Watch here
Edward McMillan-Scott accuses Dan Hannan MEP on September 27 of reneging on his manifesto commitment on the Lisbon Treaty see it here
 On the BBC Today programme on Wednesday September 16 Edward McMillan-Scott described his expulsion from the Conservative Party as 'vengeful and fruitless'. The progarmme would not allow him to discuss Michal Kaminski listen here
 October 4
The MEP expelled from the Tory Party for standing against David Cameron's controversial right-wing ally Michal Kaminski - who is to speak at this week's party conference - says its leader will pay dearly for listening to the wrong advice on Europe October 6
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