Senior Tory joins Lib Dems over Europe row (From The Northern Echo)

Senior Tory joins Lib Dems over Europe row

4:47pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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A SENIOR Tory MEP has defected to the Liberal Democrats over David Cameron's stance on Europe.

Edward McMillan-Scott, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, once leader of the Conservative MEP faction in the European Parliament, rebelled against his leader's decision to break away from the centre-right European People's Party in Europe, arguing that he wanted to forge a more eurosceptic faction in Strasbourg.

After months of wrangling and a disciplinary hearing, Mr McMillan-Scott made the surprise announcement this afternoon that his days as a Tory were over.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said he was "delighted" to welcome a respected Tory into the fold.