Tonight Chris Bryant will be giving a lecture on Tory isolation, division & irrelevance in Europe. As our series of key issue lectures continues in the run up to the election the Europe Minister explores a world view that would see a country divided at home and isolated abroad if we have a Conservative Government.
Under the Tories Britain’s policy on Europe would be hijacked by a cabal of Eurosceptics intent on removing Britain from the EU. Perhaps more dangerous is the immediate effect of David Cameron’s confused policy: isolation on the world stage, a lack of influence in the EU and a return to institutional navel gazing at a time when Europe needs to create jobs for its citizens. Already in the European Parliament, Cameron has shown he will put dogma first, country second, even at the cost of British businesses and industry when they need us most.
If anything should cause us to question the Tory stance on Europe is their association with Michal Kaminski, a Polish MEP with extremist links and one time member of the National Revival of Poland (NOP) – an openly anti-Semitic, homophobic and xenophobic organisation who, among their other ‘achievements’, have denied the Holocaust and produced posters proclaiming ‘Fascism? We’re worse!!’
Kaminski was imposed as candidate for Vice-President of the European Parliament in July 2009 by Timothy Kirkhope, Tory MEP leader. This inexcusable choice, that ignored Conservative rules of procedure, was part of a deal which would have seen Kirkhope become leader of David Cameron’s already controversial new ECR group without an election.
He is due to speak at an event St Anthony’s College in Oxford at 5pm tonight and it will surely be against a backdrop of protest from a plethora of campaigners and disgusted citizens. If you wish to join the protest then find more information on the event here.
Kaminski isn’t the only abhorrent politician that Conservative policy on Europe will force the party to work with. The European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP) have released a pamphlet illustrating not only the distasteful opinions expressed by MEPs who are now Tory allies after the party’s decision to leave the European People’s Party but also Tory MEPs in their own words. From denying climate change and homophobia to praising Enoch Powell – this is the true face of the Conservatives on Europe.
The Chris Bryant event takes place tonight, Tuesday 9 March, between 6 – 7pm in the Wilson Room, Portculllis House, Westminster.
To register for a place for this event please email [email protected]
Photo: Chris Bryant 2010