Conservatives enter alliance with Swedish far-right in European Parliament

Sweden Democrats has its roots in white supremacy and wants immigrants to return to their country of origin

A supporter of the Sweden Democrats party stands behind a police line separating them from anti-racist protesters (AFP/Getty)

The Conservatives have entered an alliance with a far-right anti-immigration party from Sweden, prompting accusations they are “worryingly comfortable in the company of right-wing extremists”.

Following meetings on Tuesday night, the Sweden Democrats party, which has its roots in fascism and white supremacy, was admitted to the Tory-led European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, set up by David Cameron in 2009.

The Swedish party, which is riding high in the polls on a wave of xenophobia ahead of elections this year, had previously sat in the EFFD group, with Ukip and Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland AfD.

The Swedish group is trying to clean up its image to become more mainstream, having previously shared iconography with the UK National Front. One of its founding senior officials was a veteran of the Nazi Waffen-SS and leading members have been pictured wearing Nazi regalia.

The Sweden Democrats party opposes multiculturalism and says it wants immigrants to be returned to their countries of origin.

Senior Brussels Tories said the Swedish party had “made progress in reforming themselves” and said they had opposed the party’s entrance to the ECR group, but would accept it.

But the British party has been accused of legitimising extremists. Dutch liberal MEP Sophie In ‘t Veld said: “The Tories seem worryingly comfortable in the company of right wing extremists, xenophobic and authoritarian outfits that are also openly opposing gender equality, freedom of speech and LGBTI rights.

“They even stay silent while their allies from the PiS [Law and Justice party] undermine the rule of law in Poland.

“Are these really the new allies of the UK government? The Tories should really consider if legitimising these kinds of parties is in the interests of the United Kingdom.”

Other controversial parties in the ECR group include Poland’s populist Law and Justice Party, Finland’s right wing Finns Party, and the far-right Danish People’s Party.

The Tories were criticised last week for backing Hungary’s authoritarian Fidesz government in a vote in the European Parliament, recommending against the use of sanctions under Article 7 – to protect the EU’s core values – in contrast to most other mainstream groups.

Conservative MEP leader Ashley Fox said: “Over the past decade the Sweden Democrats have made progress in reforming themselves, expelling any members displaying unacceptable views or behaviour and diversifying their party base. As a result they are enjoying considerable electoral success.

“Conservative MEPs acknowledge these efforts but believed the Sweden Democrats needed further time before being admitted to the ECR group.

“However we respect the decision of our ECR colleagues and will assist the Sweden Democrats on their political journey, working with their MEPs during our remaining time in Brussels to secure a more efficient, representative and accountable EU.

“The ECR group demands the highest standards of its member delegations, as demonstrated by its decision in March 2016 to ask the German AfD party to leave, under threat of expulsion.”