Tory MEPs given sleaze guidelines
Mr Cameron says he is trying to address the issue
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Wednesday, 09, Jul 2008 03:07
New Conservative guidelines announced by party leader David Cameron today will force Tory MEPs tin the European parliament to reveal their expenses and whether they employ family members.
Mr Cameron said "recent months have revealed a series of loopholes" and "inadequate controls" in the European system, referring, presumably, to controversies involving Giles Chichester, the party's leader in Europe.
Under the proposals, the use of service companies would be outlawed, any family members assisting the MEPs with their work will have to have their names and salaries published and all bonuses will have to remain below 15 per cent of the individual's annual salary.
A 'right to know' form will need to be published twice a year. An outline of allowances used will have to be published on the delegation website. A compliance officer will be appointed to report to the chairman of the delegation and Mr Cameron's head of compliance.
Announcing the draft code, Mr Cameron said arrangements for transparency and employing relatives "are all in our view inadequate".
"This is unacceptable," he added.
MEP expenses have long been a source of irritation to Westminster politicians who look at levels of European expenditure with disbelief given the level of scrutiny the UK press puts them under.
But the forced resignation of Mr Chichester put the media spotlight on the European system.
Under the current system €270 (£215) a day is allocated for restaurants and hotels, although MEPs do not have to explain how often they take advantage of the allowance or what for. €4,000 (£3,183) is available for general expenses. The new rules will come into force in June 2009.