The former Czech prime minister has resigned as chair of the Civic Democratic Party after making derogatory comments about Jews and gays.

During an informal conversation with the staff of the gay magazine Lui, Mirek Topolanek said that Transport Minister Gustav Slamecka is a homosexual who "gives in when he faces a serious problem".

Jewish Prime Minister Jan Fischer, he said is "simply a Jew; he's not gay and he gives in even sooner".

Mr Topolanek's Civic Democratic Party was the main ally of David Cameron's Conservatives in creating a new non-federalist group in the European Parliament.