The British Conservative party has not only welcomed Dan Hannan MEP back into the fold, after his expulsion in February 2008 by Joseph Daul, but many are embracing his ideas, laid out in his book The Plan: Twelve months to renew Britain. In it Hannon lays out a series of thirty detailed and concrete proposals to radically change Britain. The plan has some broad themes, localising democracy, withdrawal from Europe and institutional reform.

This plan is forming part of a debate in the party and supporters, who do not agree with all of it, are gaining ground in Europe and the UK. Hannan, who does not suffer from shyness is almost bursting with delight on his blog, where he documents the increasing influence of the loose faction, known as ‘H Block’, and their progress towards becoming official policy. Indeed some are asking if this group are already the unofficial party leaders in Brussels. There is considerable support for Hannan within the party for having put forward a detailed platform for debate. Certainly, he’s taken a lot of criticism, but as one Conservative MEP said, ” we’re going to be the only party going into the election with some actual ideas to put before the public”.

In a recent post, the excitable MEP asked what Tory leader and Prime Minister in waiting, David Cameron’s big idea is. The answer was The Plan, of course. However there are two areas of difficulty for the leadership; the radical reform of health provision and leaving the European Union in favour of a free trade area. Other proposals are gaining support, and from other parties. It is thought that Cameron, and others, will cherry pick the ideas they can sell in an election campaign, but it is very difficult to have a serious political debate in the run up to an election where cheap point scoring is what passes for discourse. Could it be that The Plan will be embraced formally after the results are in? These are exciting times for the Conservatives as they prepare for a return to government after over a decade on the back benches.

Some Tory MEP’s are wondering if they would rather be in Westminster than Brussels and three are on the Conservatives A list of Prospective Parliamentary Candidates, the top 100 to be given preferential treatment. If the new Cameron administration is going to be more rejectionist the European party lose their importance, domestically. Hannan’s big achievement is to get Cameron to stop dithering and form the ECR group, but is that going to last?

The European Conservatives and Reformists group has one major problem; Michal Kaminski. The Czech Civic Democratic Party (ODS) is unhappy with the group leader because they joined on the understanding that a British Conservative would be group leader and they feel uncomfortable with Kaminski and, according to informed sources, are looking to join the European People’s Party group. This is not a done deal, but it must be tempting for the EPP to welcome them. If that wasn’t trouble enough, in London and Brussels a substantial and growing dossier on Kaminski is being prepared, to be published at some point before the British General Election. Kaminski does have his defenders, who point out that many famous names in the Parliament and commission have had youthful stances that they look back on with regret.

Hannon’s nemesis, Joseph Daul is also preparing to make a move that will cause concern. He is expected to approach Edward MacMillan-Scott, and offer secretarial services to him in his capacity as Vice President of the Parliament. It is clear, however, that this offer is purely to enable MacMillan-Scott to work effectively as a VP. Without such support it would be hard, if not impossible, for him to fulfill his role. For some strange reason the ECR failed to offer the support services. There is no question of MacMillan-Scott joining the EPP, or that Daul would make such an offer. At least, not yet.