Conservative MEPs receive letter from Hungary's far-right leader Orban thanking them for 'support' in EU vote

Conservative MEPs have received a letter from Hungary's far-right leader Viktor Orban, expressing his "gratitude" for their decision to oppose a recent vote in the European Parliament against his government.

It follows a row earlier this month after it emerged the Tories were the only governing conservative party in western Europe to vote en masse in support of Mr Orban's administration - a vote he lost by 448-197.

Just three of the party's MEPs voted against the triggering of the EU's sanctions process after a report citing widely-condemned behaviour, such as violating press freedoms and waging an antisemitic campaign against a leading Jewish businessman.

Addressing the vote in the European Parliament in a letter to Conservative MEPs, according to Yahoo News, Mr Orban said he would like to express his "gratitude for your support during the vote on the report on the situation in Hungary".

He continued: "I believe that the report is a verdict against Hungary and the Hungarian people. Not only it is based on political insinuations and factual errors, but it deploys double standards as such it undermines the credibility and integrity of the European Parliament and the European institutions in general.

"I appreciate the support you've shown towards national sovereignty and solidarity during the vote. I can assure you that regardless of the shameful attacks of pro-immigration forces, we will not give into extortion."

"We will continue to fulfil our European obligations and defend the borders of Europe and Hungary, for the sake of our citizens. I wish you good health and much success in your highly responsible duties."

According to the website, the letter was sent to Conservative MEPs and other political groups in the parliament two days after the vote.

His letter comes after a row over the Tory MEPs' vote in the European Parliament earlier this month to stop the Hungarian leader being censured for widely-condemned behaviour, such as violating press freedoms and waging an antisemitic campaign against a leading Jewish businessman.

Responding to the report, Ian Lavery, the chairman of the Labour Party, said being thanked by Mr Orban should be a matter of "shame" for the Conservatives.

"Theresa May has still not accounted for why her party is backing a government that has attacked judicial and media independence, denied refugee rights, and pandered to antisemitism and Islamophobia.

"The prime minister must explain and apologise for her party's behaviour."

A spokesperson for the Conservative MEPs in the European Parliament said the letter was a "round-robin" sent to all those who opposed the vote against Mr Orban's government and said it had "nothing to do with supporting Viktor Obran".

Instead, the party has previously argued, the motion was "politicised" and Michael Gove, the environment secretary, said last week that rather than supporting the far-right leader his party was refusing to interfere in the domestic affairs of another member state.