Become a Member
News

Michael Gove criticised for 'shameful' unwillingness to condemn 'antisemitic' Hungarian PM

Tory MEPs refused to vote for action against Viktor Orbán's government, which has been accused of 'pandering' to Jew-hate

September 17, 2018 15:41
Michael Gove on Andrew Marr's show
2 min read

Michael Gove has been criticised for “worrying” and "shameful" unwillingness to condemn Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán over antisemitism and xenophobia, after Tory MEPs refused to vote for taking action against his government.

The Environment Secretary was asked why his party's MEPs opposed last week triggering the EU’s most serious disciplinary procedure against the Hungarian government, which stands accused of "pandering to antisemitism".

The refusal caused a surge of anger and Lord Finkelstein, the Jewish Conservative peer, called it “very distressing” and “a shameful thing to have happened”.

Appearing on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Mr Gove said he would not "go down that route, play that game" when asked to condemn Mr Orbán.