Kirkhope returns as Tory leader in EU parliament

The British Tory delegation in parliament has elected its third leader in just over a year.

Timothy Kirkhope has been elected to lead the group - the largest British delegation in parliament - and immediately pledged to pursue party leader David Cameron's "vision" of the EU

He jokingly told this website, "I have taken a year out but am delighted to be back."

Kirkhope has appointed Robert Atkins as his chief whip and Philip Bradbourn to a new role relating to “parliamentary activity”.

At the same time Richard Ashworth was elected as deputy group leader while Syed Kamall was elected as treasurer.

The two elected members of the Conservative delegation bureau will be David Sumberg and Martin Callanan.

Kirkhope was group leader until just over a year ago but was replaced by Giles Chichester who was forced to stand down in the wake of accusations that he misused his expenses.

Chichester was succeeded by Philip Bushill-Matthews who was seen as a “safe pair of hands” but always made it clear he did not intend to be leader long. He is also leaving parliament at next year’s elections.

Kirkhope said, "It is a great honour to be elected to lead Conservative MEPs and I look forward to building on the excellent work of my predecessor.

"Conservative MEPs are delivering David Cameron's vision of an EU that focuses on climate change, global poverty and competitiveness, but which also wants to see powers returned to national governments.

"Conservatives have a positive message for EU reform, so that it responds more effectively to the demands of our citizens without interfering in areas where no value is added. I look forward to taking our positive message to the electorate leading up to the parliament elections next June."

His return as leader comes in the wake of the recent decision by David Cameron to expel Den Dover, the Conservative party's former chief whip in parliament after the parliamentary authorities ruled that he had breached its rules and demanded that he pay back just over €550,000.

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