UK Tory party hold talks on new EU-wide party

A top official from the UK's Conservative Party today said his party would cut links with the largest centre-right political group in the European Parliament and seek to form a new euro-sceptic political party in the European Union assembly.

Former Conservative leader William Hague, who is now foreign affairs spokesman for the Tories, said he was optimistic that the 27-strong Conservative delegation, which now sits with the European People’s Party, will soon create a new party in the 732-member EU legislature.

Hague said he had talks with various political groupings in the parliament, including EPP leader, German Christian Democrat Hans-Gert Poettering, who has tried to convince the Conservatives to stay in the EPP.

“These have been preliminary discussions,” said Hague, but added there were “initial grounds for encouragement.”

Conservative Party leader David Cameron pledged to take his European politicians out of the centre-right EPP – which holds the most seats in the EU parliament – when he was elected leader last year.