Skewed compass

Last week a Polish MEP who has made shocking homophobic comments was elected cochairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, the UK Conservative Party’s grouping in the European Parliament. Ryszard Legutko, a member of Law and Justice, was elected to lead the grouping alongside UK Tory Syed Kamall.

Legutko has described LGBT rights as “a tyranny of the minority which has taken over the main institutions and main ideologies in the western world”.

Speaking about same-sex marriage in 2014, he said: “What we have witnessed in Europe is a radical revolution. Over the last ten years, this is, I believe, an unnecessary and extremely destructive experiment which we’ll be regretting very soon. I represent common sense.”

Legutko also insists that the rise in anti-lgbt hate crime is a “totally fictitious problem”, claiming homophobia does not exist. It was clearly disappointing to note that Legutko has been elected unopposed to the leadership of the ECR.

The Conservative Party’s 20 MEPS sit in the ECR group, which was set up by former Prime Minister David Cameron. The party has repeatedly come under scrutiny over its uncomfortable alliance with fringe parties from across Europe, most notably Poland’s right-wing Law and Justice Party.

Following on from its alliance with the DUP it appears that the Tory moral compass is now so skewed that they are willing to get into bed with anyone, whatever they stand for, for the sake of electoral power.

ALEX ORR Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh