A senior Conservative Member of the European Parliament is demanding the resignation of the European budgetary Commissioner, Erkki Liikanen, following allegations of widespread fraud within the European Commission.

The deputy, Edward McMillan-Scott, said Mr Liikanen had suspended a financial controller, Paul van Buitenen, who leaked evidence of suspected mismanagement and large-scale corruption within the Commission.

Mr McMillan-Scott said Mr van Buitanen had been victimised for doing his public duty.

Next week the European Parliament is debating a no-confidence motion in the Commission, triggered in part by Mr van Buitenen's revelations.