Court warning by Yorkshire Euro-MP expelled by Tories

Edward McMillan-Scott tore into the Tories, claiming the decision to expel him was "unconstitutional, against natural justice and grossly disproportionate" and declaring: "This is no longer the party I knew."

He said he was considering taking the matter to court because it was "about the values of the next British government".

Mr McMillan-Scott was expelled after accusing Polish Euro-MP Michal Kaminski, one of the Tories' allies in the new anti-federalist European grouping, of having anti-semitic and homophobic links and successfully standing against him to win re-election as a vice-president of the European Parliament.

He has accused Mr Kaminski of representing "the rise of disguised extremism at a key moment in European politics", and said his stance was inspired by the fact his maternal grandparents were interned by Winston Churchill as members of the British Union of Fascists.

His appeal for reinstatement has been rejected by a panel, and now he is taking legal advice ahead of a possible High Court challenge.

He accuses the party of "double standards" by singling him out for tougher treatment than those embroiled in expenses scandals or even Jeffrey Archer, who was expelled for five years after being jailed for perjury.

"In my case the party seeks to prevent my candidacy in the next European Election, merely for making a stand on matters of personal conscience," he said. "This raises very serious ethical, legal and political issues."

A Tory spokesman said: "Edward McMillan-Scott is no longer a member of the party and as far as we are concerned the matter is closed."