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An ex-Ukip MEP has been made the vice president of a group involving France's far-right National Front.

Janice Atkinson, who was expelled from Ukip over false expenses claims, has joined a group led by National Front leader Marine Le Pen in the European Parliament.

The Parliament has 751 members and because they come from 28 countries, like-minded parties have to join together to secure votes and influence.

Ms Le Pen - whose party came second in this year's French local elections with 25% of the vote - revealed today she had enough support to form a new Eurosceptic group.

It means that anti-EU and anti-immigration MEPs will have more influence in the assembly.

(Image: Getty)

The new group will be named Europe of Nations and Freedoms, and will "represent a political strike force that will go far beyond our previous situation" she told reporters in Brussels.

They have been joined by Geert Wilders and Marcel De Graaff of the Netherlands and Harald Vilimsky of Austria.

Ms Atkinson was expelled from UKIP over an alleged expenses scandal and "bringing the party into disrepute" after allegations that a member of her staff tried to organise a false receipt for a meal.

She denies any wrongdoing.

She said today: "A stable and committed new group in the European parliament is launched, bringing new weight to bear against the ideology of the European Union.

"The bitter fruits of the European project are an everyday reality for citizens in Britain and for the whole continent of Europe.

"The mercilessness of the European agenda is felt by millions across Europe impoverished by the cruelty of the Euro. Mass immigration into Britain and Europe continues to accelerate at the behest of the same EU ideology."

(Image: Reuters)

By forming a group, it means that the National Front will get more speaking time during Parliament sessions.

The party will also be in a better position to get its members on parliamentary committees.

It will be the second Eurosceptic group in the European Parliament. The other is Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy, which includes Ukip and is chaired by Nigel Farage.

David Cameron has promised an in/out referendum on EU membership will happen before the end of 2017 after including it on his election manifesto.

But he has been forced to back down over holding the referendum next May after backbench Tories complained it would be too soon to press their case.