Victory for Cameron would spell disaster for Tory MEPs

7.16.05pm GMT Tue 29th Nov 2005

As the race for the Conservative Leadership stumbles to a conclusion, Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne today looked forward to a new Tory regime in Europe.

Speaking in Brussels today, Ms Lynne commented,

"On the one hand we could have Labour MEPs in Brussels doing what they want, their colleagues in Westminster unable to keep them to the party line and on the other hand if David Cameron is elected as leader, a Tory party with no influence as they are to be withdrawn from the umbrella EPP group in the Parliament. What a sad day for the Tories.

"Tory MEPs would become impotent, sitting alongside fascists like Le Pen and Mussolini

"As much as Cameron claims to be a moderniser, the Tory's in Europe will be set back years under his leadership.

"This only goes to show what a mess the Tory party is in, whatever the outcome of the vote is on the 6th December"

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

The question of the relations between Tory members of the European Parliament and the European People's Party (EPP), which includes the main centre-right parties in the EU has been a fraught question because the EPP leaders are integrationist/federalist. Mr Cameron wants to end this agreement, which, he believes, is incompatible with the Tories' sceptic views.

There will be 11 hustings for the Conservative party leadership race across the UK and whoever gains the most votes becomes party leader, with a final result expected on 6 December.