Ex-Tory European leader Edward McMillan-Scott defects to Lib-Dems

Edward McMillan-Scott, the former Tory leader in the European Parliament, today defected to the Liberal Democrats.

The MEP told David Cameron he feared the Conservative leader said one thing on Europe in private but would do another in government.

Mr McMillan-Scott accused Mr Cameron of "propitiating extremism abroad". The two clashed last year over Mr Cameron's decision to remove his MEPs from the centre-right European People's party and set up a new group, European Conservatives and Reformists, with Right-wing allies from eastern Europe.

The MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber successfully stood against Michal Kamiñski, the Polish MEP chosen to lead the new group, for the post of vice-president of the European parliament, and as a result had the Tory whip removed.

"I have been around the higher circles of the Conservative party for long enough to fear that on Europe Cameron says one thing in opposition and will do another in government," said Mr McMillan-Scott.

"I have long fought against totalitarianism and the extremism and religious persecution it brings. It was wrong of Cameron to associate with MEPs who have extremist pasts in his new European alliance."

Party leader Nick Clegg said: ""I am delighted to welcome Edward McMillan-Scott to the Liberal Democrats.

"For many years he has fought for human rights and democracy world wide and he is rightly a respected politician across Europe.

"As someone of principle he has refused to cosy up to right wing extremists, despite pressure from the Tory machine."

Mr McMillan-Scott said: "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."