Glenis Willmott MEP, Labour's Leader in Europe, said: “I am outraged that a Holocaust denier could preside over the opening session of the European Parliament and will work with our political partners to stop him."

Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson has already said he opposes the change. “There is no reason we should treat Mr. Le Pen differently from others,” he claimed, “even if we hate his politics.”

Glenis Willmott MEP commented: "I am shocked that Graham Watson, Leader of the Liberal Democrat MEPs, does not see the need to stop Le Pen from being given a platform for a lengthy speech and media coverage. Le Pen is not an MEP like any other. Le Pen has been accused of being anti-Semitic and has been convicted by several courts for Holocaust denial. This Parliament was founded after Europe lay in ruins because of Fascism. We should not allow Le Pen to use the European Parliament for spread his foul views."

Glyn Ford MEP said: “There is no acceptable face of racism and intolerance, Le Pen should not be given this platform to air his repugnant views.

Jean-Marie Le Pen recently stated that the Nazi occupation of France was essentially benign – apparently forgetting the 77,000 Jews who went to the concentration camps, with less then 10 per cent surviving.”