The head of the main EU centre-right grouping has predicted the demise of the European Conservatives and Reformists. It would be "humiliating" for David Cameron.
In what would be a “humiliating” reversal for David Cameron, the head of the main centre-right grouping in Europe has predicted the demise of the Conservative leader’s European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) – a group described as being “exotic … [and containing] characters with disturbing ideas about gays and Jews”.
In an article in New Europe, Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, secretary general of the European People’s Party (EPP), predicted that the Czech Civic Democratic Party (ODS) would leave the ECR and join the EPP. The ODS are the third largest party in David Cameron’s “sexist and Islamophobic” grouping. Their former Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has recently resigned as Chairman of the party after being filmed making disparaging remarks about “gay” and “Jew” colleagues.
The loss of the nine ODS members would leave the ECR on a knife edge “with the minimum requirement of members from seven states, five of which have a solitary MEP”. The loss of of only one further MEP would mean that the ECR would be wound up under EU rules.
In the interview, Lopez-Isturiz criticised David Cameron’s sidekick in Brussels, Daniel Hannan MEP:
“I hope David Cameron will make the pragmatic choice. I don’t understand how EU affairs was left to Daniel Hannan.”
Lopez-Isturiz went on to heap praise on, “pro-Europe Tories, such as Lord Brittan, Lord Patten and Shadow Business Secretary, Ken Clarke, describing them as ‘brave’ in standing up for Europe.” He also set out how Cameron’s EU policy was damaging the British Conservative party’s relationship with their allies in the United States:
[He said] that there was an important Trans-Atlantic aspect, as “John McCain told him to join the EPP”, and remaining outside the group would rupture the Tories links with the US Republican Party, and he added, “The position of Britain as a bridge between the US and Europe is now destroyed. There is a new one that is enlarged between Washington and Brussels, now we have a direct connection.”
20 Responses to “End of the road for Cameron’s homophobic alliance?”
Mister Jabberwock
The only thing missing from this post is that it wasn’t written in green ink!
Donovan Clarkson
RT @labourlist: RT @leftfootfwd: End of the road for Cameron's homophobic alliance? Head of EPP predicts "humiliating" end for ECR http://bit.ly/b7r2vt
Guido Fawkes
Do you actually believe this crap? You know your mate Macintyre ending up cost the Staggers a fair old few quid after they paid out over that rubbish about Hannan being racist.
Trying to demonise your opponents as anti-semites, homophobes etc all the time for short-term political advantage is truly unsavoury. The likes of Hannan and myself just don’t want a European supra-state, it is a legitimate argument you should address on its merits. Trying to make out we’re crypto-nazis is just not plausible.
As for the substance of this story, a leader of a rival political faction predicts demise of other faction? Wow.
Will Straw
If you’re commenting at 11.52pm, Guido, it must be a story.
Seriously, though, I’m not demonising anyone, just pointing out what others are saying. Most of these characters (who I don’t happen to think are cryto-Nazis) are their own worst enemies which is why they collectively got less than 5% of the European vote last June.
The supra-state argument is is a good one to have. Personally I’m sympathetic to less rather than more EU regulation, but the Tories’ strategy will not get us there.
John77
Will,
You are grasping at straws – Antonio Lopex-Isturiz sounds like Lord Adonis asking LibDems to tactically vote Labour, and reports from anyone outside the Labour party suggest that there is more homophobia and Islamophobia in evidence in the three other main parties: EPP, S&D, ALDE, let alone EFD, than in ECR. Who has opposed Turkey’s application to join the EU? – not the British Conservatives.