By Martin Banks - 16th November 2009
They should be expelled for their serial disloyalty and provocative behaviour
Edward McMillan-Scott
Ousted Tory deputy Edward McMillan-Scott has said that two Conservative MEPs should be expelled from the party.
His demand follows the European Conservative and Reformist group's formation of a new pan-European alliance of which Hannan will hold the key post of secretary general.
McMillan-Scott accused Daniel Hannan and Roger Helmer of "serial disloyalty" and said it was "ironic" that both deputies were allowed to remain in the party when he was expelled for standing against Michal Kaminski, the Tories' choice for a vice-presidency post.
Kaminski failed in his vice-presidency bid and instead was elected leader of the ECR group.
McMillan-Scott, one of parliament's most senior deputies, said Tory leader David Cameron "must act swiftly to restore order and ensure that he remains in control of his new European agenda".
He added, "Daniel Hannan and Roger Helmer - the core of the notorious Brussels anti-European 'H' Block - should be expelled for their serial disloyalty and provocative behaviour.
"If they are not expelled - as I was for no stated reason - Cameron may be accused of double standards.
"The Ukip tendency within the Conservative party could prevent the Tory victory at the general election which I look forward to", warned McMillan-Scott.
He also said Tory shadow foreign minister William Hague should be moved to another post for his "lamentable" political management.
McMillan-Scott said, "Hague failed to do proper research into the Conservatives' new allies in parliament, leaving British Tory MEPs sitting with parties from the wilder fringes of European politics.
"It is now clear that these hard-working Tory MEPs will be unable to deliver due to the fractious and incoherent nature of this unpopular new group - at a time when parliament has serious new powers.
"Hague's designation of Michal Kaminski as candidate for vice-president of parliament - for which he is wholly unsuited and inappropriate because of his recent anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist links - and Hague's lamentable political management of this affair show his lack of focus.
"Hague's endorsement of Kaminski as leader of the new group and his recent decision to award Daniel Hannan the running of a new €1m transnational party based on the new parliamentary group has now led to a rebellion by some 10 Conservative MEPs.
"The Conservative party must rebuild its reputation in Europe and restore links with the EPP.
"David Cameron has shown he is fit to be PM by reasserting control over his European policy. David Cameron should use his new approach to prepare for a Britain which is leading in Europe, not leaving it."
McMillan-Scott was Tory MEP leader between 1997 and 2001 and former member of the Conservative party board.
He has appealed against his "unprecedented and legally faulty" expulsion from the party last month.
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