Conservative MEPs split in Brussels

Serious splits in the Tory party are appearing over Europe

Prior to the formation of the new parliament this year, there was a great deal of speculation about new alliances, with much attention focussed on the British Conservatives, who were committed to leaving the European People’s Party (EPP) by their leader, David Cameron. The move was opposed by many Tory MEPs. The party has now formed around itself a right of centre grouping called the European Conservative and Reformists (ECR). Subsequently, some of these new allegiances have raised a number of eyebrows, and the Tories are currently the subject of what must be highly unwelcome media attention concerning one of their higher profile colleagues.

In an even more radical break with tradition, we can report on a new initiative that is being taken by the Conservative delegation in Brussels. Plans to set up a pan-European political party, likely to be known as the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe are now well advanced. The membership of this transnational political party is likely to reflect the national parties that now sit alongside the Tories in the ECR.

In a further development, the Tories are instrumental in the founding of a new, EU funded, think tank in Brussels, to be called the New Direction: Foundation for European Reform. Rumours have been circulating to the effect that David Cameron and William Hague are seeking a prominent Tory figure to oversee the project: Malcolm Rifkind and Michael Howard have both been mentioned in connection with the plan.

If these plans come to fruition, between the two of them they are potentially in line for up to €1 million of EU funding per annum.

During talks last week (Tuesday 13th), Dan Hannan MEP, and Mark Francois MP, currently the Tory Shadow Minister of State for Europe, forced a snap vote, seemingly in an attempt to secure control over funding. However, the new party will be comprised of members of all the national parties involved, and effectively the Tories will not be able to exercise the degree of control that last Tuesday’s events suggest they would like to have. As the largest delegation, however, they will bring in almost half the funding; each elected member attracts in the region of €15000 per annum.

Hannan has taken a degree of control, as Chairman of the new party, with Czech MEP Jan Zahradil being appointed President. The new foundation is to be headed by Geoffrey Van Orden, who was the main rightist challenger to Tim Kirkhope MEP, a europhile who is the Conservatives official leader in Brussels.

Speculation about an ECR staff member being appointed as Secretary-General of the group is controversial: this would be a contravention of EU rules which seek to separate the accounts of national and pan-European parties. OLAF is known to be investigating a transgression of these rules that occurred during the last parliament.

A number of Tories, believed to be led by James Elles MEP, are known to be unhappy about these plans; 10 MEPs are refusing to sign up, despite coming under “strong pressure” to do so.

Edward MacMillan-Scott, speaking to Brussels-based journal New Europe said that "putting aside trivial ambitions among MEPs, the fact that Daniel Hannan has been promoted to the powerful financial post shows that the obsessive Euro-skepticism of William Hague has triumphed again over the interests of the Conservative Party and country. Daniel Hannan is a member of Better Off Out and even David Cameron will not allow members into the Shadow Cabinet. Dan was the architect of the ECR - which is causing massive political damage to the Tories. He is now punting a referendum on the EU, which will split the Conservative Party in government. He is more interested in UK independence from Europe than the interests of the Conservative Party and William Hague's backing for all these projects shows him to be unfit for Foreign Secretary".