MEP alleged expenses fraud

mkpdavies · 24-10-2005, 03:08 PM

Apparently it was dropped from later editions. I do not know why.

I am more than a little annoyed at the total silence from UKIP on this.

Tree Pruner · 24-10-2005, 08:06 PM

Wise is a complete tit who did not expect to be elected and tells all and sundry that being an MEP is like having your own personal cashpoint.

Sheila · 24-10-2005, 10:05 PM

.
I still don't understand how this could have been done. I checked today, and I was right - the money for MEPs' support staff is paid directly to the staff, not to, or via, the MEP.
.

Tom Wilde · 24-10-2005, 10:13 PM

That does sound very curious. I do hope somebody at UKIP HQ is working feverishly to get to the bottom of it.

mkpdavies · 24-10-2005, 10:29 PM

I want a clear concise statement from UKIP ASAP.

New Liebour would have had a response out a day before the release, we have to make it clear what happened and what action is being taken, if needed.

brian lee · 24-10-2005, 10:31 PM

If I may correct a few assumptions.

1 The article in the Sunday Telegraph appeared in some editions marked "Final", and not in others, also marked "Final". Different "finals" were delivered by the same wholesaler in the same round to nearby newsagents.

2 Tom did expect to be elected because he knew he was supported by the Eastern Counties people. They do not generally get much coverage because they do not trumpet their talents, but work as a team to get on with the job.

3 It is quite likely that UKIP has been infiltrated by members of other parties who believe that by shutting it down will ensure the progress towards a United States of Europe.

4 It does not look good, but we need to hear Tom's side of the story before jumping to conclusions.

WindupMerchant · 24-10-2005, 10:32 PM

The silence is deafening, which is really a disgrace :x

mkpdavies · 24-10-2005, 10:33 PM

Quote:

4 It does not look good, but we need to hear Tom's side of the story before jumping to conclusions.

Exactly.

We are waiting.

Anthony Butcher · 25-10-2005, 01:30 PM

Official UKIP response:

http://www.ukip.org/abc_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=1658

Quote:

On Sunday 23rd October 2005, the Sunday Telegraph published an article about Tom Wise MEP and his use of the European Parliament's Secretarial Allowance.

The figures quoted were wrong and the impression was given that Mr Wise was personally benefiting from these allowances. This is wholly false and impugns his integrity.

Mr Wise fully accepts the simple principle that all UKIP MEP's must be above suspicion and regrets any confusion that the article has caused.

It is normal practice for MEP's secretarial allowances to be paid to a single person who acts as a paying agent to the contracted staff. Indeed, Mr Wise performed this function as office manager for Jeffrey Titford MEP in the 1999 - 2004 parliament. After his election in June 2004, and in the absence of any clear written rules, Mr Wise continued to act as paying agent, this time on behalf of his own staff.

UKIP cannot state strongly enough that at no time since his election has Mr Wise attempted to seek personal gain as a paying agent.

However, as recent rule changes discourage MEP's from performing this function, and after a meeting with the finance secretariat, Mr Wise has repaid all unspent balances to the Parliament.

Signed

Nigel Farage
Leader UKIP Group in the European Parliament

Roger Knapman
UKIP Party Leader

I presume that Tom will be suing for libel or at the very least putting in a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission.

Hartlepool · 25-10-2005, 01:38 PM

Seems fair enough to me.

24-10-2005, 03:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,182 Party: Libertarian Party	Apparently it was dropped from later editions. I do not know why. I am more than a little annoyed at the total silence from UKIP on this. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

24-10-2005, 10:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,182 Party: Libertarian Party	I want a clear concise statement from UKIP ASAP. New Liebour would have had a response out a day before the release, we have to make it clear what happened and what action is being taken, if needed. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

24-10-2005, 10:31 PM	#16 (permalink)
brian lee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South Essex Posts: 613	Tom Wise If I may correct a few assumptions. 1 The article in the Sunday Telegraph appeared in some editions marked "Final", and not in others, also marked "Final". Different "finals" were delivered by the same wholesaler in the same round to nearby newsagents. 2 Tom did expect to be elected because he knew he was supported by the Eastern Counties people. They do not generally get much coverage because they do not trumpet their talents, but work as a team to get on with the job. 3 It is quite likely that UKIP has been infiltrated by members of other parties who believe that by shutting it down will ensure the progress towards a United States of Europe. 4 It does not look good, but we need to hear Tom's side of the story before jumping to conclusions.

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24-10-2005, 08:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
Tree Pruner Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 29	Wise is a complete tit who did not expect to be elected and tells all and sundry that being an MEP is like having your own personal cashpoint.

24-10-2005, 10:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
Sheila Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 580	. I still don't understand how this could have been done. I checked today, and I was right - the money for MEPs' support staff is paid directly to the staff, not to, or via, the MEP. .

24-10-2005, 10:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
Tom Wilde Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London. Posts: 2,914	That does sound very curious. I do hope somebody at UKIP HQ is working feverishly to get to the bottom of it.

24-10-2005, 10:32 PM	#17 (permalink)
WindupMerchant Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,508	The silence is deafening, which is really a disgrace :x

25-10-2005, 01:38 PM	#20 (permalink)
Hartlepool Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North East England Posts: 6,817 Party: Popular Democrats	Seems fair enough to me.