European Parliament transparency initiative

gimlet · 20-05-2008, 01:33 PM

European Parliament transparency initiative

In March, Open Europe sent a survey to all UK MEPs asking them to give details on their arrangements for handling their expenses. To see their replies, click

http://www.openeurope.org.uk/researc...ansparency.xls

mkpdavies · 20-05-2008, 03:51 PM

Too much contempt shown for the public, even from most of the UKIP people (very disapointing again). Farage seems to set quite a good example on this, but his fellow MEPs have let UKIP down.

As for all the usual traitors like Corbett and Cashman, they are even worse. They actually are supposed to take their joke jobs seriously, yet can't even be bothered to answer a few straight questions.

What a cunch of bunts.

Sciurus · 20-05-2008, 05:08 PM

Fascinating responses:

Quote:

UKIP Batten Gerard
Incomplete answers - and uses a family member as a service provider
He has occasionally used the professional services of one family member only as a self-employed service provider.
Mr Batten respects the confidentiality of all his self-employed service providers in terms of their identities and the amounts of monies paid to them.
Gerard Batten MEP does not employ any family member on a permanent basis.
None listed

UKIP Bloom Godfrey
Replied, but no answers except to Q 4 and 5
No
List here Godfrey Bloom
MEP in the European Parliament Ind Dem Group UK Independence Party UKIP Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Region
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...11-03-2008.PDF

UKIP Booth Graham
No reply
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...11-10-2006.PDF

UKIP Clark Derek
No reply
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...21-11-2007.pdf

UKIP Farage Nigel
Yes
Keymer Haslam & Co.
Chartered Accountant
There is a zero balance in the account
No
Yes, Mrs. K. Farage, but only since 2006
S. Harris, D. Samuel-Camps, D. Sinclair, K. Farage
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...22-02-2008.pdf

Non attached Kilroy-Silk Robert
No reply
None listed

UKIP Knapman Roger
No reply
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...09-01-2008.PDF

Non attached Mote Ashley
Incomplete answers
NONE - PARLIAMENT DEALS DIRECT
ASK THEM
NONE
DONT UNDERSTAND QUESTION.* I EMPLOY STAFF AND PARLIAMENT PAYS THEM AGREED SALARIES/FEES/EXPENSES PROPERLY ACCOUNTED FOR WITH RECIPETS AND TICKETS - ALL WITHIN ANNUAL BUDGET.* ANY BALANCE IS LOST
DO NOT,*HAVE NOT AND NEVER WILL .* MY WIFE IS A LINGUIST AND REGULARLY TRANSLATES DOCUMENTS.* SHE HAS NEVER RECEIVED NOR ASKED FOR PAYMENT AND - LIKE ME - HAS ALWAYS FELT SO STRONGLY ABOUT THSES MATTERS (LONG BEFORE THE CURRENT FUSS) I WOULD NEVER OFFER AND SHE WOULD ALWAYS REFUSE.
YES*- FRENCH PA, ENGLISH PA, FOUR RESEARCHERS - ONE DUTCHMAN, ONE ITALIAN, ONE ESTONIAN AND ONE BRIT (WHO IS A HIGHLY QUALIFIED FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT).* HE (THE LATTER) HAS ALWAYS REFUSED TO BE PAID AND ACCEPTS ONLY HIS AD HOC*EXPENSES.* I ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE AD HOC ADVICE OF TWO CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYERS (ONE BRITISH ONE NOT), A UK LAWYER*AND A TEAM OF POLITICAL RESEARCHERS BASED IN SCANDINAVIA.* (HOW ELSE WOULD I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAUSE THE*TROUBLE I HAVE GENERATED, AND ASK THE 100s OF QUESTIONS I HAVE ASKED*IN BRUSSELS OVER RECENT YEARS?)*
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...04-12-2007.PDF

UKIP Nattrass Mike
Replied but no answer
All of our UKIP MEP's comply with the EU rules, and are monitored by an accountant. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...08-01-2008.PDF

UKIP Titford Jeffrey
Yes
I do not have a paying agent.* All my staff have direct contracts with the European Parliament and their salaries are paid into their own bank accounts.
N/A
N/A
The full entitlement has been claimed to within a few pounds in each successive Parliamentary year.
No.* None of the people employed by my office are remotely related to myself or any of my family members.
I am prepared to provide the names of the four people in employment through my office, if you feel that it is strictly necessary.* Naturally, public disclosure of the political party for which they are working, does compromise their privacy, to a certain extent.* It may also affect their future employment prospects.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...27-11-2007.pdf

UKIP Whittaker John
No reply
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...07-09-2006.PDF

UKIP Wise Tom
Answers to Q 1,2 and 3 unsatisfactory
I do not use one. All my service providers*are self employed and thus such is irrelevant.
Thus not applicable.*
Thus not applicable.*
Yes, I have repaid*monies not properly spent.
NO, nor would I.*
No. To do so would breach the confidentiality they enjoy. It was not part of their original agreement that*this would be disclosed - or even discussed.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif...19-12-2007.PDF

It would appear that both Mote and Titford labour under the illusion that their staff (including Mote's Scandanavian researchers, no doubt) are supplied by, and have contracts of employment with, the EU rather than themselves. As such, they obviously have no requirements for the £147,000 of staff allowances. No doubt a quick call to the EU Quaestors will confirm this.

Mote's "forensic accountant", IIRC, is Christopher Arkell; his British "constitutional lawyer" is presumably still Leo Price QC. Both are personal friends, I believe. It seems unusual that he dimishes that friendship by labelling them his researchers.

C_steam · 20-05-2008, 06:34 PM

Brian Simpson (labour):-

Quote:

Employs wife (service provider)

Oh really?!!!!

Mikeuk · 20-05-2008, 07:03 PM

I hear that the only things that are transparent round the Euro Parliament are the knickers of some of the female staff.

It must be a great place to get laid - and you get paid for it.

Hartlepool · 04-06-2008, 12:40 AM

If only all of UKIP MEPs had been here doing this over the years we would be in a much stronger position now.

Of couse,some will say not so I expect

Alex McKee · 04-06-2008, 01:56 AM

We can't change that UKIP has failed to make good responses, with the exception of Nigel Farage and Jeffrey Titford, but we can make sure that in future we are always able to make #1 on the league table.

20-05-2008, 01:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
gimlet Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Shropshire Posts: 836	European Parliament transparency initiative European Parliament transparency initiative In March, Open Europe sent a survey to all UK MEPs asking them to give details on their arrangements for handling their expenses. To see their replies, click http://www.openeurope.org.uk/researc...ansparency.xls

20-05-2008, 03:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,158 Party: Libertarian Party	Too much contempt shown for the public, even from most of the UKIP people (very disapointing again). Farage seems to set quite a good example on this, but his fellow MEPs have let UKIP down. As for all the usual traitors like Corbett and Cashman, they are even worse. They actually are supposed to take their joke jobs seriously, yet can't even be bothered to answer a few straight questions. What a cunch of bunts. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

04-06-2008, 01:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
Alex McKee Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gloucester Posts: 6,666	We can't change that UKIP has failed to make good responses, with the exception of Nigel Farage and Jeffrey Titford, but we can make sure that in future we are always able to make #1 on the league table. __________________ Anything I post on this web forum is my personal opinion only. Users on Ignore list: None.

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20-05-2008, 07:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mikeuk Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fareham Posts: 5,758 Party: Conservatives	I hear that the only things that are transparent round the Euro Parliament are the knickers of some of the female staff. It must be a great place to get laid - and you get paid for it.

04-06-2008, 12:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
Hartlepool Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North East England Posts: 6,817 Party: Popular Democrats	If only all of UKIP MEPs had been here doing this over the years we would be in a much stronger position now. Of couse,some will say not so I expect