Tory MP spoke at event with far-right figures
 

The Conservatives are under pressure to discipline the MP Daniel Kawczynski for speaking at a conference alongside some of Europe’s most notorious far-right politicians.

The Tory co-chair of the all-party group on antisemitism, Andrew Percy, and the Board of Deputies of British Jews have asked the party to investigate his appearance on Tuesday at the conference in Rome.

Other speakers included Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orbán, Italian leaders closely associated with Benito Mussolini’s fascism, and a member of the Le Pen family.

The Shrewsbury MP had argued that Orbán and fellow speaker Matteo Salvini “represent serious ideas and concerns, some of which are shared by many citizens of the UK”.

In a blog on the Spectator website, Kawczynski criticised the Guardian after breaking the story about his involvement in the conference.

He wrote: “The paper has suggested a Tory MP should not speak at an event ‘with far-right’ figures on the subject of nationalism. But they are wrong … Clearly, offence archeologists have done a thorough job in finding historic remarks from some of the participants that jar with the liberal world view.”

Percy, the Tory MP for Brigg and Goole, said Kawczynski’s involvement was wholly inappropriate. “I wrote to Daniel last week asking him not to attend given the presence of the far right … I shall be raising this with the party,” he told Matthew Harris, a Newsnight producer.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews called on the Conservatives to discipline the backbencher. Marie van der Zyl, president of the board, said: “Mr Kawczynski’s defence, that ‘it is only common sense to talk with parties and politicians that are either leading their respective countries, or will perhaps take power in the next few years,’ is a specious one, for the simple reason that the MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham is not any sort of government representative.

“If the Conservative party fails to discipline Mr Kawczynski, it runs the serious risk of the public assuming that they share his views on association with such people.”
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...ar-right-event

Sack him.

And nobody anywhere should be surprised ..

Eh, I think we run the risk of becoming hypocritical with things like this, a few months ago I was defending Corbyn for appearing at events alongside unsavoury people, because leaders and potential leaders have to reach across the aisle and address things with people they may not like and don’t agree with, it would be remiss of me to do the opposite just because the person happens to be a Tory, if you only speak with people who agree with you, then your world view gets skewed, unless evidence comes out of said Tory being hateful and sharing the views of these far right lads, I think it’s only fair to give him the benefit of the doubt for now

I hereby conclude my once in a blue moon Tory defence.

I agree.

i condemned Corbyn for sharing the same platform with undesirables so the same rule applies here. He wasn't there representing the uk government so his whole argument for being there is totally flawed

Very well said. I'm proud of you.

I must have missed when you defended Corbyn's freedom of speech:think:

What's that got to do with me being proud of Liam for showing some good morals that we can all learn from?

First of all Kawczynski is not a leader or potential leader.

Second "far right lads", really? What next, nazi boys?

His defense is they may have some "serious ideas". What ideas originated by far right and neo nazism he has in mind I wonder?
I cant think of any worthwhile ideas generated by those worldviews that are not present in mainstream conservatism. And those that are not are definitely not worth following.

It highlights your hypocrisy.

Well i did say that we can all learn from Liam, so yeah, I realise that I'm likely to be a hypocrite from time to time, but at least I'm aware of that, and can try to be better.

Sack him. There should be no grey area in things like this, not for anyone, not for any party.