UKIP MEPs Booth, Farage and Titford failed to keep their undertakings, set out in the Declaration signed by all UKIP candidates in 1999, to:
1) use all allowances generated as a result of my membership of the European Parliament as directed by the UKIP NEC and in a manner consistent with the EU regulations for the use of such expenses
2) pay all expenses over and above those necessarily and reasonably used by me in fulfilment of my duties as a MEP into a trust fund for the assistance of victims of EU regulations
3) provide the NEC with a quarterly detailed account of monies received and expended
The party's manifesto for that election also stated that UKIP candidates had undertaken that as MEPs they would make their expense accounts available publicly. Another promise broken.
UKIP MEPs Farage and Titford misled the press into believing they had donated £11,500 of excess travel allowances to Steve Thoburn's defence fund. Neil Herron has confirmed that no such donations were received from the MEPs.
UKIP MEPs disregarded the resolution passed by party members at the 2001 annual conference, reaffirming support for the principal policy of withdrawal from the EU and regretting any dilution of this policy by advocacy of a referendum, and, using Ind/Dem group funds launched a petition calling for a referendum on EU membership. This despite John Whittaker having proposed a motion for the 2002 conference that "calls on the NEC to implement the resolution carried by the Membership at last year's Party Conference and ensure that no future policy, literature or publicity, advocates the calling of a referendum regarding EU membership".
|