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The writing is on the wall for unity within the higher echelons of the Conservative party after this high level dismissal for winning an election to become vice-president of the European Parliament. The Conservative MEP Edward McMillan-Scott was under instructions not to stand for the position, even though he has previously held the position of leader of the Conservative group in Brussels, because David Cameron wanted his Polish ally to win the contest.
The story is on the BBC website: - Conservatives expel defiant MEP
The Conservative MEP Edward McMillan-Scott has been expelled from the party.
The MEP was suspended in July after he stood for vice-president of the European Parliament in defiance of party instructions.
He was criticised for challenging a Polish MEP, one of the Tories' new allies in Brussels, for the role.
The Conservatives said they were "disappointed" by the MEP's behaviour but Mr McMillan-Scott, who once led the Tory group in Brussels, is to appeal.
'No scapegoat'
He said he would not be made a "scapegoat" for widespread criticism of the Conservatives' decision to forge a new alliance in Brussels after June's elections.
"I will not be a scapegoat for this," Mr McMillan-Scott said of the decision to expel him, one he said he was not consulted on.
"David Cameron has been exploited by those in the party who want Britain to leave Europe. I want Britain to lead in Europe."
The Conservative leadership said it had written to the MEP outlining the steps he would need to take to have the whip restored, including resigning the post of vice president, and the penalties for not doing so.
"He failed to respond to any of these conditions and therefore his membership of the party has been revoked," a spokesman said.
Is this a ‘pull me push me’ tug of war between euro sceptic and pro-European Conservatives utilising David Cameron as the rope? I do hope so!
There are traditional Conservatives out there who do not want Great Britain to be submerged into a subservient position within this European superstate. Positioning is clearly taking place behind the scenes for control of the strings of the Cameron Mannequin as this report demonstrates.
From the Telegraph of 24th January 2009: - William Hague welcomes Eurosceptic Kenneth Clarke's return to the cabinet
William Hague has warmly endorsed the return to the shadow cabinet of Kenneth Clarke in comments which are likely to reassure the Eurosceptic Tory right.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph the shadow foreign secretary, seen as the Cabinet's leading Eurosceptic, said pro-Brussels Mr Clarke had made a "very important statement" in claiming he would not oppose the party's future direction on Europe.
Lord Tebbit, the former Conservative chairman, branded his ex-ministerial colleague "lazy" and said his return would be a "nightmare."
However, Mr Hague's words of support are likely to mollify Right-wingers because of the shadow foreign secretary's position as a Eurosceptic.
Euro sceptic ex-minister welcomed back to the shadow cabinet and the Conservative ex-leader of the European Conservatives sacked for winning an election. This may be a stretch but I see shades of Margaret Thatcher in the thinking.
In the past I believe that Mrs Thatcher was anti-immigration in front of the public prior to an election to curry favour with the voters who were moving to the ‘right’ more and more. Afterwards of course immigration began to increase and has never stopped since but I am straying. The British National Party and the UKIP false flag operation are certain to draw quite a number of votes at the next General Election. This could quite easily be the Conservatives lining themselves up for another smoke and mirrors operation for the benefit of the electorate.
