More guns turn on Farage over expenses scandal

Things are certainly hotting up for Farage!

Davey: Farage must explain UKIP’s missing millions

Mon, 25 May 2009

Edward Davey is writing to UKIP Leader Nigel Farage challenging him to publish his MEPs’ expense claims and to account for their shameful record of voting for perks and secrecy in the European Parliament.

When Nigel Farage first went to Brussels, he promised to publish his accounts annually ‘so the public can inspect them', but since then neither he nor his UKIP colleagues have done so.

In addition, two of the 12 UKIP MEPs elected in 2004 have since faced criminal charges for falsely claiming benefits, false accounting and money laundering. UKIP has also voted against a cap on MEPs' earnings, reforms to make travel expenses more transparent, and have backed laws aimed at keeping their expenses secret.

Commenting, Edward Davey said:

"UKIP MEPs have attacked others over their expenses while living the high life in Brussels, charging the taxpayer, and hiding the true cost from voters.

"One in six UKIP MEPs elected in 2004 has since faced criminal charges over their creative accounting. Meanwhile, UKIP turned up in the European Parliament to vote against a cap on MEPs' earnings, against reforms to make travel more transparent, and in favour of laws aimed at keeping their expenses secret.

The chair of the Liberal Democrats' Campaigns and Candidates Committee, went on to say, "It's one thing to complain about MPs' expenses. But it is quite another to point the finger while hiding the truth about yourself.

"UKIP's absent accounting, elusive expenses, and secretive attitude add up to bare-faced cheek. Nigel Farage must explain to the public where the money has gone and why they have voted against change.

Edward concluded "UKIP must end the hypocrisy and show us the money now.

"Dear Mr Farage,

Recent revelations over politicians' expense claims have highlighted the importance of openness, transparency and accountability when spending money from the public purse.

When you were first elected to the European Parliament in 1999 comments you made suggested that you understood the need for this approach. You were widely quoted as saying that: "We are the only people who are intending, annually, to publish so that the public can inspect them, our expense accounts, our allowance accounts, and the excess that we get - the excess that we are forced to take - particularly on travelling allowances.

"Why haven't you?

After ten years in the European Parliament there is no evidence that you or any of your UKIP colleagues have ever published a breakdown of your expenditure. A number of your colleagues use their websites to criticise the Parliament's expenses regime, but none accompany this with information about what they themselves have spent. Is this because you spend money in a way which you know the public would find inappropriate?

Moreover, the voting record of your MEPs suggests that, far from pursuing frugality and transparency, UKIP wants to protect its perks and cover up the evidence.

Why did you vote against the Gargani Report on the Members' Statute which proposed a cap on MEPs' earnings and reform of travel expenses so that they are based on receipts rather than the lump sum equivalent of a business class ticket?

Why also did you vote just two months ago for amendment 114 to the Cashman Report, aimed at preventing freedom of access to MEPs' expense details?

Finally, given your commitment not to "go native" in Brussels, could you explain why your parliamentary party has been plagued with such problems over financial irregularities?

One in six UKIP MEPs elected in 2004 has since faced criminal charges, with one spending time in prison and another currently facing trial. That is the equivalent of one hundred and eight Westminster MPs' being charged with crimes.

What steps are you taking to ensure that any new Members elected do not similarly fall foul of the law?

In the interests of public accountability I believe that you should give full and public answers to these questions.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Edward Davey MP

To view the original: LINK

And still Nigel Farage refuses to publish a full list of his expenses. What have you got to hide Nigel?