By Martin Banks - 25th June 2009
I made my feelings known at the meeting though mine was a sole dissenting voice
Edward McMillan-Scott
The new parliamentary group formed by the British Tories has suffered an embarrassing setback on its first day.
The group, which met for the first time in Brussels yesterday, has seen one of its new members quit.
Finnish member Hannu Takkula, from the Centre Right party, announced his decision after the meeting. He said he will remain with the ALDE group.
UK Tory Edward McMillan-Scott, who was present at the meeting, said, "I spoke with him afterwards and he told me he had received a call from the Finnish prime minister saying that while he had 'no problems with the Tories' it was 'others' in the group he should be wary of."
The shock move came on the day the group, called the European Conservatives and Reformists, elected Tim Kirkhope as its interim leader and appointed Irishman Frank Barratt its secretary general.
McMillan-Scott told this website he had "concerns" about the background of some of the group's new members.
He said, "I made my feelings known at the meeting though mine was a sole dissenting voice.
"The party has made its own checks but I remain concerned about some of the members and will be making my own investigations."
Concern focuses on the Law and Justice party in Poland (PiS) which has 15 members. The party has banned gay marches in Poland for being "sexually obscene".
McMillan-Scott said, "I am not comfortable with the group which I see as a pure political adventure."
Another Tory member, who declined to be named, said, "The group risks collapsing if one or more members pull out."
The 55-strong group relies heavily on three parties, the Tories, Czech ODS and the Poles. Otherwise, it is comprised of single MEPs from four member states.
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