By Martin Banks - 10th July 2012
This is yet one more failed attempt by the EDL
Richard Howitt
Socialist MEP Richard Howitt has demanded an investigation after right-wingers allegedly "hijacked" parliament's facilities.
It comes following what the deputy called a "clandestine" meeting of European far-right groups on Monday.
The British member has now raised the issue with parliament's president Martin Schulz.
On Monday afternoon, Tommy Robinson of the English Defence League (EDL) spoke to the meeting and described himself as the president of the British freedom party.
The meeting was hosted behind the "cover" of the launch of a new front organisation called the International Civil Liberties Alliance.
The gathering was publicised on parliament's internal TV screens, but only as a "meeting by non-attached".
Far right members from organisations in Germany, Sweden and the UK attended the meeting, and literature was sold to attendees.
One keynote speaker said that the mainstream media represented "a threat to life and liberty".
Adding, "A society which becomes more Muslim becomes less everything else."
Howitt has, in the past, criticised EDL attempts to form different European 'defence leagues' by using their Facebook page.
The deputy, whose constituency includes Luton where the EDL originated, has now challenged parliament to probe what he calls a "mis-use" of its premises.
He said, "These people should not have been allowed to use parliament to spout their hatred to hard-line supporters and to openly fundraise."
"This is yet one more failed attempt by the EDL to find European partners as they just cannot spread their roots in the UK.
"In the same way Nick Griffin and the BNP tried to use parliament as a spring board and failed abysmally, the EDL will find they are badly out-of-their-depth."
Howitt added, "I have written to the president of parliament to complain about the use of our facilities to raise funds for such hate organisations and to investigate whether other meetings are planned."
