Milligan-Scottt Withdrawal Letter Further Condemnation

Edward McMillan-Scott's letter informing David Cameron why he is no longer pursuing he appeal against expulsion from the Conservative party contains three reasons which really condemn.

Here it is in full.

12 March 2010

Dear David,

I am resigning today from my appeal against expulsion from the Conservative party and from the party itself to join the Liberal Democrats for three reasons:

1. I have been around the higher circles of the party long enough, most recently serving on both the Euro-election and general election strategy committees at CCHQ, to know that Euroscepticism is in the hearts of most Conservatives. Your decision to split from the mainstream EPP and create the new ECR group has been universally condemned, even by rightwing commentators such as the Economist as a "shoddy, shaming alliance". You say you will not "bang on about Europe" and your spokesman make warm noises. But I fear that on Europe you say one thing in opposition and will do another in government.

2. You continue to refuse to accept that Michał Kamiński, who now leads the ECR and against whom I stood and won re-election as vice-president of the European parliament last July, has had "antisemitic, homophobic and racist links". You say that you are against extremism at home, yet you propitiate it abroad.

3. My family, friends and those who work with me will all confirm that I have sought in good faith an amicable resolution of my dispute at all levels in the party. I have written to you on several occasions without a reply and have pursued the appeal process to which you submitted me in the diminishing expectation of fairness. I have stated my case modestly in the media. Last weekend your lawyers made clear that the appeal would continue to be rigged by you, despite your public pretensions to decency and fairness. As my friend Henry Porter put it in the Observer, your response has been "thuggish and panicky". You say one thing in public and do another in private.

My reasons for joining the Liberal Democrats are that in Nick Clegg they have a leader whom I like, admire and respect. They are internationalists, not nationalists. They are committed to politics based [on] the values of fairness and change, but you are committed to power for its own sake.

Yours sincerely,

Edward McMillan-Scott MEP

Vice-president of the European parliament, responsible for democracy and human rights

See also George Lyon's guest post from last night.

EXCLUSIVE George Lyon MEP - Principled McMillan-Scott Exposes Cameron

The following is an exclusive guest post from Scotland's Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon about what his new colleague Edward McMillan-Scott's joining of the Lib Dems earlier today means for the Conservative Party.

If ever you needed proof that David Cameron is not fit to lead Britain, then today we got it in the principled defection of former Tory MEP Edward McMillan Scott to the Liberal Democrats.

My new colleague was damning in his assessment of Cameron's Conservatives saying that their European Parliament group – the European Conservative and Reformists - contained "MEPs who have extremist pasts". He also said that Cameron was, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, deceiving the electorate in opposition only to destroy Britain in Government.

Like any group which keeps questionable company, the Conservatives will find sensible voices in their party moving away from the lunatic fringe where Cameron has exiled them.

McMillan-Scott did no more than stand up to a party machine pushed by Cameron into establishing a group containing members such as Michal Kaminski, who is a member of a Polish party the U.S. State Department classes as anti-Semitic. Also in the ECR are members of the Law and Justice party who described President Obama's election as the "end of the civilisation of the white man".

Something you would expect to hear from Nick Griffin, not friends of the man who would be Prime Minister.

Cameron has not denounced his European bed-buddies for their views, and in neglecting to do so he has shown himself not fit to lead the Conservatives in Europe, never mind Britain in EU.

I firmly believe that the majority of Conservatives are disappointed, even embarrassed, about the company their party keeps. Like McMillan-Scott, those who have doubts about Cameron as a leader of principle do have a natural home.



Nick Clegg has put fairness at the centre of the Liberal Democrats general election platform - fairness in the tax system, fairness in education and fairness for you from politicians.

David Cameron's attitude towards his friends in Europe, and to the man who stood up to him, shows that his call for change is fake. I would be surprised if he could even spell fairness.

The Conservatives latest poster campaign features people claiming they have never voted for the Tories before but…

Well, I have one for you Dave. I have never voted Tory before but I know someone who did; he is called Edward McMillan-Scott. He has deserted you, others will follow.

***Breaking*** Former Tory MEP Defects to Lib Dems

It certainly is a year for change for Edward McMillan-Scott MEP.


For 25 years he was a Conservative MEP, but on the first day of business of the new parliament that all changed. His was the lone Conservative voice in Europe that was heard about David Cameron's European shift to the hard right leaving the European People's Party (EPP) to join the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR). Indeed he stood against Michal Kaminski for the position of group leader, he had previously held the the position in the Tories previous grouping.

At that time he said:

"Standing as an independent candidate, for the values of democracy and human rights which I have worked to promote worldwide, I have made a start.

"Rather than withdrawing the whip, David Cameron should be pleased that a Tory is still at the top in Europe."

Cameron wasn't impressed, first the whip was removed and then Mr McMillan-Scott was expelled.

Today McMillan-Scott has joined the Liberal Democrats saying:

"My reasons for joining the Liberal Democrats are that in Nick Clegg they have a leader whom I like, admire and respect. They are internationalists, not nationalists. They are committed to politics based the values of fairness and change.

"From being a liberal Conservative I become a conservative liberal. Most of my family are liberals. I am pleased to join the liberal family."

So a Tory MEP defecting from the party over their stance on Europe strange case of deja vu, for the Euroscpetics that is same again.

UPDATE His new Scottish colleague George Lyon MEP said:

"This defection is a coup for Nick Clegg and a calamity for David Cameron.

"Someone who can't lead a united party in Europe is certainly not fit to lead Britain in the EU.

"Like any group that keeps questionable company, the Conservatives will find sensible voices in their party moving away from the lunatic fringe where Cameron has exiled them.

"I welcome Mr McMillan-Scott to the Liberal Democrats a look forward to working with him in the European Parliament."