More controversy over Tory friend Kaminski


by Carl Packman    
2:56 pm - October 18th 2009

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A story reported in today’s Observer reveals that information on the far-right history of Michal Kaminski – the man who is leading Conservatives in Europe – had been deleted from wikipedia from within the House of Commons.

The report mentions that the edit took place three days after the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) was founded.

That the information was taken offline is of no surprise since at the inaugural meeting of the ECR, which took place on the 24th of June, a tip-off warned: “I hope no MEP in the new group has had links with extremist movements like Poland’s National Revival [NOP – a neo-Nazi group].”

Edward McMillan-Scott, the former Conservative MEP who was sacked for opposing the ECR’s dubious leader, also had his wikipedia page modified on the same day to make him seem more pro-European than he actually is.

According to an article by McMillan-Scott on 15th July, Kaminski himself had undone a change referring to the National Revival made by a wikipedia user – by another wikipedia editor.

The omission Kaminski is said to have made about himself on his wikipedia can be found here, and reads:

Michal Tomasz Kaminski [...] Former member of National Revival of Poland, far right, nationalist political party.

But this new evidence today shows that attempts to rewrite Kaminski’s history were made sooner than Kaminki’s own omissions.

Chris Bryant, the government’s new minister for Europe, said:

Obviously, no Labour or Lib Dem working in parliament would want to airbrush out inconvenient truths about Michal Kaminski, especially just after the creation of the new Tory grouping,” he said. “The Conservative party should investigate whether they can say the same, and William Hague and Mark Francois should come clean over whether they or any of their staff altered Michal Kaminski’s past.

Kaminski soon after becoming leader of the ECR came out in support of Lisbon, but despite this, and the concerted efforts to rewrite history, he is still regarded as a friend of high-ranking Tories such as William Hague. Militant europhile Dan Hannan has also found it within him to praise Kaminski.

As Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said of the Tories in Europe:

However much they try, the Conservatives will never be able to hide the fact that they have jumped into bed with extremists.

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About the author
Carl is a regular contributor. He is a policy and research analyst and he blogs at Though Cowards Flinch.
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Reader comments


1. MikeSC

This is a farce, and should be very embarassing indeed for the Tory party.

They’ve maneuvered themselves such that they have no choice but to defend this far-right MEP- when he doesn’t even share their goals concerning Europe.

Somebody blundered. Lots of people blundered.

2. Tomek

“tet anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone”.

Please give Kaminski a break. I am not supporter of his party at all. I do not follow his views.Is he an easy pick for you?
Why don’t you raise similar issue about Obama?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6zM5ldO35A


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
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    [Original tweet]

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    [...] new EU grouping, and his of pro-Israeli rhetoric to confront his anti-Semitic past (for examples see here and [...]

  12. More controversy over Tory friend Kaminski « Carl Packman

    [...] The report mentions that the edit took place three days after the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) was founded. (continue) [...]





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