Tory leader in European Parliament makes Nazi jibe at German MEP

Syed Kamall claimed the centre-left had the same aims as the Nazis

The leader of the Conservatives’ group in the European Parliament has been forced to apologise after he accused a centre-left German MEP of sharing the goals of the Nazis.

Syed Kamall claimed Nazism was a “left-wing ideology” after Udo Bullmann, the leader of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, said “right-wing nationalism and extremists” were “undermining the European Union”.

Mr Kamall got up to speak and told Mr Bullmann: “When you talk about right-wing extremists, we have to remember that Nazis were national socialists. It’s a strain of socialism.

“It’s a left-wing ideology, they want the same things as you, let’s be quite clear.”

MEPs erupted in outrage at the comments, with some shouting “rubbish” at Mr Kamall. The Tory added: “You don’t like the truth, do you?”

In fact, the Nazis banned the German SPD, of which Mr Bullmann is a member, along with the Communists, and sent many of their members to concentration camps. The Nazis were supported by the conservative German National People’s Party, which participated in government with Adolf Hitler’s party.

The senior Conservative, who is the face of the Tories' ECR group in the Parliament, faced immediate calls to apologise. Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal group, stood up for the socialists.

“First of all Mr Kamall, I want to tell you something. I think it was not very wise what you did, and that you have to apologise, in fact. Talking about Nazis as 'national socialists' and pointing the finger to the socialist group is an insult to all those social democrats who fought against Nazism.”

Richard Corbett, leader of Labour’s MEPs, said Mr Kamall’s comment were “disgraceful”.

“His comparing of socialists to Nazis is as historically illiterate as it is deeply offensive, and for him to have directed those comments at the German leader of the Socialist group beggars belief,” he said.

“This follows Jeremy Hunt’s recent remarks comparing the EU to the Soviet Union, and the general xenophobic tone of Tory backbenchers.

[Nazism] is a left-wing ideology, they want the same things as you, let’s be quite clear.

Syed Kamall, Tories ECR group leader

“At a time when the Tories are seeking to build support for their ill-fated Brexit deal, it seems particularly idiotic for Theresa May’s leader in the European Parliament to have followed the foreign secretary in insulting our friends and colleagues in the rest of the EU.”

After the exchange, Mr Kamall posted on Twitter: “It was not a personal comment aimed at any MEPs.

“I’ve apologised directly and unreservedly to Mr. Bullmann for any offence caused. I have upmost respect for anyone who stood up and fought against Nazism, Communism and any other kinds of extremism, regardless of political affiliation.”

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt caused outrage on the continent during the Tory party conference when he claimed the EU was like the USSR and kept countries prisoner against their will.

He was immediately rebuked by the leadership of countries that were actually occupied by the USSR, including the European Council president Donald Tusk, who fought against the Soviet dictatorship in Poland as a student.

The Tories’ MEP delegation in the European Parliament was recently embroiled in controversy after it voted against triggering sanctions against the far-right government of Viktor Orban in Hungary, isolating itself among western European conservative parties.