By Martin Banks - 16th March 2010
The true nature of the Conservative Party is showing through
Glenis Willmott
The British Conservatives have come under fire in the wake of a controversial parade said to commemorate members of the Latvian SS, which took place in Riga.
The march was attended by Latvia's Fatherland and Freedom, the political party which is allied in the ECR group alongside the Conservatives in parliament.
The annual parade is controversial because it is said to involve veterans and supporters of the Latvian Legion of the wartime SS.
For some, the march has become a disturbing symbol of right-wing extremism within the EU.
UK Labour MEPs have been quick to pounce on the occasion to once again pour scorn on the decision by the Tories to align themselves in the ECR group, joining what some see as extreme rightwing groups.
Glenis Willmott, who leads the UK Labour delegation in parliament, said, "The Conservatives should make it clear why they are allied to a party that is taking part in this controversial march that commemorates members of the Latvian SS.
"The true nature of the Conservative party is showing through. At a time when international action is needed to tackle the challenges we face, David Cameron has chosen to isolate his party from mainstream European politics."
Further condemnation came from UK Socialist deputy Michael Cashman, who said, "I think David Cameron must be in denial about his party's association with its allies in Latvia.
"The fact is that this Latvian party is well-known for being anti-Semitic and homophobic. For Cameron to plead otherwise is, at best, misleading.
"An event such as this march today brings further into question Cameron's decision to invite such a party to join forces with his own."
However, an ECR spokesman angrily hit back at the criticism, saying, "There is nothing controversial about this event which, it is worth pointing out, actually also includes participants from the EPP's allies.
"We have one member from the party in the ECR group and the party is part of the coalition government in Latvia. The parade is nothing like the way it is being portrayed in the media."
UK Tory deputy Daniel Hannan said, "It is worth repeating that this ceremony is attended by every party in Latvia except those that represent the Russian minority.
"It is worth repeating too that the smears against our Latvian ally have prompted their main opponents, currently in the Latvian government, to protest that UK foreign minister David Miliband is prejudicing bilateral relations between our two countries."
Latvian foreign minister Maris Riekstins described as "inadequate" the attempts to characterise rememberance of war victims as glorification of Nazism.
