A Tory MP who spoke at a conference alongside “some of Europe’s most notorious far-right politicians” has been given a slap on the wrist from the party.
The Conservative Party has issued Daniel Kawczynski with a “formal reprimand” after he attended the National Conservatism conference in Rome alongside Hungary’s far-right prime minister Viktor Orban.
His attendence attracted widespread criticism, including from the British Board of Deputies and the Muslim Council of Britain.
Also speaking at the conference was Ryszard Legutko, the Polish Law and Justice MEP who has described homophobia as a “totally fictitious problem”
A Tory spokesperson said: “Daniel Kawczynski has been formally warned that his attendance at this event was not acceptable, particularly in light of the views of some of those in attendance, which we utterly condemn.”
“He is expected to hold himself to higher standards. Daniel has accepted this and apologised.”
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Approached for comment by the Mirror, Mr Kawczynski: “I’ve certainly got no comment for the Mirror. Thankyou.”
On Tuesday, the Shrewsbury and Atcham MP defended his decision to attend the conference, telling the Mirror his speech was “purely an analysis of Brexit”
Asked for his response to criticism of his speaking alongside Orban, Mr Kawczynski said: “He’s a democratically elected Prime Minister of Hungary. I’ve got no comment on that.”
And of his critics, he said: “People who make statements like that should attend the conference and see for themselves, quite frankly.
“We were talking about the sovereignty of nations and how we can regain control of sovereignty from the European Union.”
