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24 June 2014

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Fianna Fáil turmoil as only MEP joins Tory eurosceptic group

Sole MEP's solo run challenges Mícheál Martin's leadership

Brian Crowley and Mícheál Martin at a recent Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis

IN A DRAMATIC move, Fianna Fáil's only MEP, Brian Crowley, has left his party's Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) EU grouping and alligned himself with a group led by the British Conservative Party and includes the anti-immigrant Danish People's Party.

In what came as a shock to the Fianna Fáil party, the South constituency MEP announced he was joining the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group which includes right-wing parties such as the British Conservative Party and the Ulster Unionists, as well as far-Right anti-immigrant parties like the Danish People's Party.

The move came just a week after a Fianna Fáil insider told the Sunday Independent:

"Euro-scepticism is going to be a significant point of differentiation between us and Fine Gael from now on."

There are reports that Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is furious at the move, particularly as he was not aware of the decision until after it was made.

In a statement the party described the move as "unacceptable", noting that Crowley had stood for election just last month under the staunchly pro-EU ALDE banner.

Fianna Fáil says it remains a member of ALDE and is set to discuss their MEP's decision to leave at their parliamentary party meeting in Leinster House on Tuesday.

The group which Fianna Fáil's only MEP is now a member of is a staunch supporter of NATO and calls for a firm stance to restrict immigration into the EU.

❑  The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUENGL) is now the most popular EU group among Irish MEPs, with four Sinn Féin MEPs and Independent Luke 'Ming' Flanagan as members. 

Fine Gael's four MEPs are members of the right-wing European People's Party (EPP) while Fianna Fáil and the UUP's lone MEPs have now joined the ECR conservative grouping.

Independent Nessa Childers has rejoined the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) while Marian Harkin is a member of ALDE.

The DUP do not belong to any political grouping.

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