After the 2009 European elections the UK Conservatives formed a new Eurosceptic grouping - the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).

BBC: EU votes show strong UK dissent - Votewatch study

"The EU wishes to sign in its own right, and the coalition government thinks that's good, but the ECR voted against it, " Mr Fox said.

BBC: EU votes show strong UK dissent - Votewatch study

Mr Schulz had decided not to allow separate votes, tabled by the ECR group, on various sections of the report on the European dimension of sport.

BBC: Voting session

Quite how influential the ECR will be in the new parliament should become clear when the members and chairmen of the powerful committees are decided, says the BBC's Dominic Hughes in Strasbourg.

BBC: Euro parliament elects new leader

Although the 25 British Conservative Party MEPs have left the European People's Party to form the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), the EPP remains the strongest bloc in parliament with 264 seats.

BBC: Euro parliament elects new leader

The country has been split between politicians who have strong EU ambitions, and those who lean more towards Russia - with ECR group leader Michal Kaminsky saying that the EU should not let Ukraine "drift to the east".

BBC: Debate on Ukraine