LABOUR and the Liberal Democrats have added their voices to the criticism of David Cameron by an East of England Tory Euro MP, who yesterday warned that Britain would be heading for the rocks if his own party leader becomes Prime Minister and follows an independent line in Europe.

Graham Dines

LABOUR and the Liberal Democrats have added their voices to the criticism of David Cameron by an East of England Tory Euro MP, who yesterday warned that Britain would be heading for the rocks if his own party leader becomes Prime Minister and follows an independent line in Europe.

The damning attack on David Cameron came as Christopher Beazley, the Tory Euro-MP for East of England, hit out at Mr Cameron's decision to sever formal European Parliament links with centre-right MEPs from other member states.

As exclusively revealed in the EADT yesterday, Mr Beazley warned of a massive loss of influence if the Tories marginalise themselves in European politics and divorce themselves from centre-right European People's Party grouping.

Labour Euro MP for the region Richard Howitt said: “Throughout the years, I have always known Christopher as a principled politician and he has proven that again today - standing up against what has rightly been called Cameron's 'anti European hysteria.”

Europe Minister Caroline Flint said: “Christopher Beazley is right. David Cameron would leave Britain dangerously isolated at a time when international co-operation has never been more central to our national interest. Instead of standing up to the right wing of his party, David Cameron is dragging the Conservatives to the fringes of Europe.”

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey said: “With the Conservative Party choosing to isolate itself from Europe's mainstream right, it is not surprising that some Tory MEPs feel uncomfortable about such a lurch to the extreme.”

Mr Beazley will not seek re-election when his term of office expires in June.