Chichester ousted as Tories swap influence for advisory role following Euro debacle

12.01.00pm GMT Fri 2nd Feb 2007

The Conservative Party in the European Parliament has been forced to swap influence for advisory powers after a major shake-up of the Parliament's committees has seen South West MEP Giles Chichester ousted as head of its Industry Committee.

Speaking from Brussels, Liberal Democrat MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, Graham Watson said:

"With this shake-up, the Tory Party has been forced to yield legislative powers for a talking-shop of advisory powers on the Agriculture Committee. Clearly this is testimony to David Cameron's indecision and constant threats to leave the European People's Party which has done little to help the fate of UK Conservative MEPs."

The shake-up in Committees sees Giles Chichester MEP replaced as Industry Chair by Angelika Niebler MEP and fellow Tory MEP Neil Parish assume the role of Chair of the Agriculture Committee. Graham Watson MEP, the current Leader of the Liberal and Democrat Group in the Parliament, is the former Chair of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee in the European Parliament.