My Conservative MEP Robert Sturdy has called for unity after expressing disappointment in the way in which the election for the leader of the new group of European Conservatives and Reformist was conducted.  The original plans for Conservatives suffered a setback following the election of rogue candidate Edward McMillan-Scott, an accomplished and well-respected Tory MEP, as an independent Vice-President of the European Parliament ahead of the new ECR group’s formal nomination of Timothy Kirkhope.

While this may have been the spark that started the fire, it was the political manoeuvring of the Liberals and Socialists in the Parliament which poured on the fuel by striking an alliance to support the Liberal’s candidate and deliberately rock the foundations of the new group.

Following the failure of the Polish European Conservatives and Reformists candidate Michal Kaminski to secure the position of Vice-President, the Polish delegation asked to lead the new group ahead of British Conservative candidate Timothy Kirkhope.

Mr Sturdy said:

“I have always supported David Cameron’s decision to pull the Tories from the federalist EPP and I share in his vision of creating, promoting and solidifying a much needed Euro-realist opposition in the European Parliament.  It was a brave step and one to which I continue to lend my whole hearted support.

“Unfortunately, the unity of the new group was last night called into question during the election for the position of group chairman which followed the unexpected failure of Michal Kaminski to secure the position of Vice-President of the Parliament.  While I fully support the election of Mr Kaminski as leader, who I am sure will do a sterling job for the next two and a half years, I was very disappointed with the actions of some of my Conservative colleagues who, instead of allowing an overnight period in order to restore calm and consult the leadership in London so we might present a united front, (it was by then 11pm), voted to hasten the decision making-process.

“This was not about burden sharing, but an opportunity to demonstrate how this group could and should be run. The Conservative candidates for group leader gave up their candidacies in order to safeguard the interests of our Polish colleagues.  The new group has received some unfounded and unnecessary criticisms since its formation, but last night a lack of unity demonstrated a real weakness, and one which we must now overcome should we have a fighting chance of being taken seriously, both at home and in Europe. We now need to move forward as a united group.”