LibLink: Edward McMillan-Scott – I am comfortable joining the Liberal family

By NewsHound | Sun 14th March 2010 - 8:35 pm

Over at The Observer today, the Lib Dems’ newest MEP Edward McMillan-Scott, former leader of the Tories in Europe, writes about why he had to leave David Cameron’s party in protest at their extreme views. Here’s an excerpt:

It was chilling to hear [William Hague] say to one very senior spokesman at an EU meeting some years ago: “We can say what we like here, but it will be different when we are in government.” I should have left then, instead of carrying on the pro-European fight from within.

My decision to join the Liberal Democrats this weekend was made easier by the vile letter the lawyers conducting my appeal against expulsion last year from the Conservative party received last weekend. They described it to me as “intemperate”, and advised me that, since the party refused to supply any documents about my expulsion, there was no hope of a fair final hearing next Thursday at Tory HQ. So I withdrew from the appeal and thereby resigned from the Conservative party I have served more or less faithfully for 43 years. …

A move to the Lib Dems is easier because I have known, liked and respected Nick Clegg for some years, whether as a key negotiator on trade while Sir Leon Brittan was EU commissioner or later as an MEP.

Most of my family are liberals and I am comfortable joining the Liberal family. From being a liberal Conservative I have become a conservative Liberal. And it is not a nasty party.

You can read dward’s article in full here. And you can follow him on Twitter here.

3 Comments

fdp100 14th Mar '10 - 9:05pm

Bill Newton-Dunn joined the LibDems some years back, and re-elected this time. he never seemed to regret it and I expect that Edward will receive the same welcome and have a similar experience to Bill
Alex F 14th Mar '10 - 9:09pm

I wonder – does that mean Nick Clegg was instrumental in two Tory MEP defections?
Chris 15th Mar '10 - 2:58pm

Quite probably, Alex!