Tories Take a Step Further to Isolationism

12.00.00am GMT Mon 16th Mar 2009

Reacting to the formal decision taken on Wednesday of the Tory MEPs to leave the centre right European People\'s Party (EPP-ED) after the European elections in June, Andrew Duff MEP, Leader of the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary Party, said:

"The British Conservative Party has left the mainstream of European politics and taken a turn down a blind alley. The Tories are the only important opposition party in Europe that rejects both the democratic strengthening of the European Union as prescribed by the Lisbon treaty and the completion of the single market as symbolised by the euro.

"Britain's Tory Party has shown itself to be truly reactionary, flying in the face of today's consensus that a strong and reformed EU can help shape our response to global challenges. Winston Churchill must be spinning in his grave -- and what Ken Clarke is doing on the Tory frontbench nobody knows.

"The next batch of Tory MEPs will have no influence in the new European Parliament. They will no longer be able to take important positions of influence within the Parliament's largest group to work in the British national interest. This will be a particular loss with respect to trade, agricultural and internal market matters where Tory and Lib Dem MEPs have frequently found common cause against protectionism and socialism.

"Indeed, the Tory MEPs will be a laughing stock for having to consort for narrow nationalistic reasons with small and eccentric forces from the far right of European politics.

"The Liberal Democrats believe that Britain is stronger together in Europe fighting our corner with like-minded forces from across the EU. A Tory vote on 4 June is a vote for isolationism."