BRITISH Conservative Euro MPs last night defeated a left-wing bid to

embarrass the British Government over its presidency of the EC.

The European Parliament voted by 102 votes to 100 to reject a motion

attacking the British Government, tabled by Labour Euro MPs and their

Continental socialist allies.

It noted the British Government's decision to opt out of the social

chapter of the Maastricht Treaty on EC union. It also attacked Britain's

desire speedily to bring new countries into the Community, warning that

this would damage the integrity of the EC.

York Tory Euro MP Mr Edward MacMillan Scott said that if the motion

had been adopted, it would have been an insult to Britain, and to

Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, who had addressed Euro MPs on Wednesday.

''Douglas Hurd's speech was widely welcomed,'' he said. ''The

socialists tried to use the European Parliament to deliver an insult to

Britain.

''But too many Euro MPs from all countries were offended by Labour's

attempts to play British politics in Strasbourg. It would have been most

unhelpful to Britain's presidency if this motion had been adopted, and I

am delighted we have won the day.''

He added that it was a breach of normal protocol to see a European

Parliament vote on the programme of an EC presidency. ''I am delighted

that the Labour attempt to embarrass the Government was defeated.''