Tony Blair has hit out at Conservative moves to leave the European People's Party grouping in the Brussels parliament.

Speaking in the Commons, the prime minister urged David Cameron to scrap the pledge he made during the Tory leadership election.

His comments came on the day that shadow foreign secretary William Hague insisted the Conservatives remained committed to withdrawal from the EPP group.

During exchanges at prime minister's question time, Labour MP Roger Berry said the Tories would link up with parties that are homophobic and opposed to women standing for election.

He said this would take Britain to the "extreme right wing fringe".

And Blair responded: "It would be a gross error of judgement and leadership to leave the mainstream groupings in Europe.

"That would be because it would marginalise the party in Europe [and] if they were ever to be the government it would marginalise the government."

He added it was time that Cameron "shows some leadership and ditches that policy as well".