By Daisy Ayliffe - 21st May 2006
UK Conservative MEPs have clashed over plans to leave the European People's Party (EPP-ED).
In November, the new UK Conservative party leader David Cameron pledged to pull out of the largest group in the European parliament - but his decision threatens to split the party's European parliamentary group.
Phillip Bushill-Matthews MEP told this website he feels duty-bound to stay in the EPP-ED grouping.
“We have a manifesto commitment to stay in,” he insisted. “We all signed that agreement so that is what we will do.”
But few European colleagues share his dedication to the accord reached with EPP-ED group leader Hans-Gert Poettering in 2003.
“I do not feel bound by any agreements,” Martin Callanan said on Monday.
“The manifesto was on the basis of an agreement that the EPP have not abided by. Part of the agreement said we would be free to admit whatever members we like to the ED group and we have not been able to do that.”
In 2003 ex-Conservative leader Michael Howard decided to remain with the EPP under a new deal designed to offer the conservatives greater independence.
But many UK Conservatives now argue the Howard deal made no difference to the party’s standing - and David Cameron believes parting with the EPP-ED is the only way to chart a more euro-sceptic course.
Cameron wishes to form a new political family that is “more like-minded” on enlargement and rejecting plans for the EU constitution.
“A year ago, the peoples of France and the Netherlands agreed with that view,” leader of the Conservatives Timothy Kirkhope told MEPs last week.
“The time has now come for the governments of Europe to wake up to the new reality. As we move towards an EU of 27, let us celebrate the diversity of the modern European Union. Let us harness that diversity to work together for a true Europe of nation states.”
Forming a new grouping in the European parliament requires 19 members from at least five different countries – and the party’s foreign minister William Hague has been charged with whipping up support.
Reuters report sources who say Hague has secured agreements with at least 35 MEPs and he continues to tour eastern Europe looking to build his alliance.
But critics fear such a move will isolate the party internationally.
Cameron is reported to have been threatened with being ignored by European leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Austrian Chancellor and current EU President, Wolfgang Schuessel.
The prospect of forming allegiances with radical conservatives such as the Polish Law and Justice Party (Pis) has also sparked concern.
The PiS party has spawned international criticism for its hard line stance on homosexuality.
Last year PiS leader Lech Kaczynski was reported as saying homosexuals should not be teachers, but that they would not be persecuted.
And PiS NEP Adam Bielan has added that his party does not yet have a clear policy on whether or not homosexuals should be accepted in any jobs in which there is close contact with children.
“The Conservative party believes in diversity,” Martin Callanan MEP hit back.
“Deciding a policy on homosexuality is not for the EU to deal with. We agree slightly with the PiS approach to homosexuality….we share their general approach,” he added.
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