Bonino the bigmouth is angling for Labour.

By Andrew Sparrow

Europe's fisheries commmissioner Emma Bonino outraged Tories yesterday by appearing to back Labour to win the General Election.

The outspoken Italian was accused to tearing up the convention that Brussels civil servants should not get involved in party politics.

Miss Bonino, 48, a hate figure for Euro-sceptics, was asked about the British election in an interview on Radio 4's Woman's Hour. At first she criticised the Governement's stance.

"The UK is already a full part of the European Union and I always wonder why they do not take complete advantage of being a full member" she said.

Then she put the knife into John Major's administration. "I hope

that people, more friends of the idea of European Union, will win, she said. "I think it's better for our common future".

Coming less than a week after British commissioner Sir Leon Brittan criticised John Major's calls for a more "flexible" Europe, her remarks will confirm Tory fears that Brussels is actively campaigning for a Tony Blair victory.

Former Treasury Minister David Heathcoat-Amory said it was "outrageous" that Miss Bonino should be telling the British public how to vote. "These people ought to remember that they are civil servants", he said.

"Instead, we are getting a glimpse of what the Commission is becoming, which is a fully-fledged European government. Only, they are not elected and we cannot get rid of them".

Fellow Euro-sceptic MP Nicholas Budgen said: "This is gross impertinence". He added:"This demonstrates quite clearly that they regard Labour as the party of a federal Europe."

A conservatory Party spokesman said: "Of course, the Commission are longing for a Labour government because they know that they would be a soft touch.

"Commissioners are supposed to be civil servants, but, while there is a sharp line in Britain that stops bureaucrats from getting involved in party politics, that does not seem to extendto Brussels".

As the election nears, it is likely that foreign leaders will find it ever more tempting to interfere in Westminster politics. German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel recently triggered Tory protests by also appearing to endorse Tony Blair.

Last week the Indian Prime Minister Deve Gowda told Mr Major: "We all wish you well in the forthcoming election and we hope you will win."

Miss Bonino, from the centrist Radical Party in Italy, has been accused of ruining Britain's fishing Industry with a series of sweeping quota cuts.