Labour MEP Richard Corbett has expressed astonishment at Tory Euro-leader Philip Bushill-Matthews' book "The Gravy Train", stating that "it must give Tory press officers nightmares".

Amongst the most astonishing quotes, the Conservative leader in Brussels declares that, "the selection board process for Conservative candidates.is modelled on the Nazi officer assessment course" .

Richard, Labour's deputy leader in Brussels, said:

"It is an utterly bewildering, rather tasteless claim that makes you wonder how exactly the Conservative's selection process works. It must be giving Tory press officers nightmares."

Meanwhile, Bushill-Matthews also implies that he welcomes lobbyists dictating his approach to European legislation, adding that the best lobbyists tell you, " precisely how you should vote on specific amendments and give you the wording of amendments they would like to see tabled ".

Richard added:

"I will not be the only one to be left deeply uncomfortable with a Tory MEP so brazenly admitting such an unquestioning attitude to lobbyists."

Concluding, Richard said:

"Bushill-Matthews also (rightly) complains about people peddling the myth that Brussels is taking powers away from Westminster, a rather unsubtle attack on William Hague who has repeatedly stated this view. Bushill Matthews' admission that the EU is not stealthily wrecking our national sovereignty is a welcome intrusion of sanity into his book, but is amply contradicted elsewhere when describes quite unashamedly how he plays to the Eurosceptic gallery when it suits him.

"In that respect, he's just like his boss, David Cameron: vacuous, opportunistic and facing both ways on Europe!"

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1. The quotes are directly from Bushill-Matthews' book "The Gravy Train" on his life as an MEP.
2. On the last page, he moans that "people still peddle the view that 'Brussels' is taking powers away from Westminster". 
3. He claims that "the selection board process for Conservative candidates for the European Parliament is modelled on the Nazi officer assessment course" (page 12)
4.  He says that the best lobbyists are those who tell you "precisely how you should vote on specific amendments and why, and even give you the wording of amendments they would like to see tabled" (page53).
5.  A full briefing on "The Gravy Train" can be found at http://www.richardcorbett.org.uk/briefing/twofacesoftory.htm

more information

Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP

• phone 0113 245 8987
• e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk