The Conservatives have entered into alliance with a far-right anti-immigration party from Sweden, prompting accusations that they are “worrying comfortable in the company of right-wing extremists”.
Following meetings on Tuesday night the Sweden Democrats, which has its roots in fascism and white supremacy, was admitted to the Tory-led European Conservatives and Reformists group, which was set up by David Cameron in 2009.
The Swedish party, which is riding high in the polls on a wave of xenophobia ahead of elections later this year, had previously sat in the EFFD group with Germany’s AfD and Ukip.
The group is currently trying to clean up its image to make itself more mainstream and electable, having previously shared iconography with the UK National Front. One of its founding senior officials was a veteran of the Nazi Waffen-SS, while leading members were pictured wearing Nazi regalia.
Sweden Democrats officially opposes multiculturalism and says it wants immigrants to be returned to their countries of origin.
Senior Brussels Tories said the Swedish party had “made progress in reforming themselves” and said they had opposed the party’s entrance to the group but would go along with it.
But they were accused of legitimising the extremists. Dutch liberal MEP Sophie In't Veld said: “The Tories seem worrying comfortable in the company of right wing extremists, xenophobic and authoritarian outfits that are also openly opposing gender equality, freedom of speech and LGBTI rights.
“They even stay silent while their allies from the PiS undermine the rule of law in Poland.
“Are these really the new allies of the UK Government? The Tories should really consider if legitimising these kinds of parties is in the interests of the United Kingdom.”
Other controversial parties in the ECR group include Poland’s governing populist Law and Justice Party, Finland’s right-wing Finns Party, and the far-right Danish People’s Party.
The Tories were criticised last week for backing Hungary’s authoritarian Fidesz government in a vote in the European Parliament, recommending against the use of Article 7 in contrast to most other mainstream groups.
Conservative MEPs' leader Ashley Fox said: “Over the past decade the Sweden Democrats have made progress in reforming themselves, expelling any members displaying unacceptable views or behaviour and diversifying their party base. As a result they are enjoying considerable electoral success.
“Conservative MEPs acknowledge these efforts but believed the Sweden Democrats needed further time before being admitted to the ECR group.
“However, we respect the decision of our ECR colleagues and will assist the Sweden Democrats on their political journey, working with their MEPs during our remaining time in Brussels to secure a more efficient, representative and accountable EU.
“The ECR group demands the highest standards of its member delegations, as demonstrated by its decision in March 2016 to ask the German AfD party to leave under threat of expulsion.”
