MEPs and Expenses - getting your money's worth

The revelations of Derek Conway's exploitation of the Westminster expense system took the media spotlight (albeit briefly) away from the members of the European Parliament. The British media does love to stir up a hornets nest among the electorate with the frequent "gravy train" accusations it makes against the European Parliament. While it is true some members in the past have rather naively indulged in some rather dubious financial practices (former French PM Edith Cresson hiring her dentist as an adviser being one of my personal favourites), times have changed and reform is in the air. Among other things, Commission officials are carefully vetted and MEPs sign a declaration of interests which is available to all on the European Parliamentary website. From next year, MEPs salaries will be re-evaluated so that all new members are paid the same monthly gross salary, all travel expenses to Strasbourg will require proof of receipt and the most controversial daily allowance that MEPs currently receive will be linked to duration. If you only work half a day in Brussels, half a days expenses is what you will get. Common sense really.

It remains to be seen however if the British media will give credit where it is due or whether they will continue to push the message that the European Parliament is simply a burden on British tax payer's pockets. In my campaign over the next year, I want to hammer home to the people of the East Midlands a positive message that Europe is good for us and to dispel the myths surrounding the Parliament and its members which distract the electorate's attention from the real work going on in Brussels. Take a look at www.europarl.org.uk/guide/ThingsTheySayItems/ThingsTheySay for a considered and sensible rebuke of the usual Eurosceptic nonsense.