UKIP: Derek Clark's MEP accounts

In an article published in the Observer on May 24, 2009, Nigel Farage was quoted thus:

With the pressure on all parliamentarians mounting, Farage insisted on Friday that from next month all his MEPs would publish their expenses online. "From the moment any Ukip members get elected, all elected MEPs will provide a clear and traceable quarterly statement of their expense accounts," he said.

He failed to keep his word. To this day there is no record of his expenses. Indeed, to track down certain UKIP MEP accounts/expenses is harder than tracking down Lord Lucan.

So what about Derek Clark? His website fails to list any of his expenses/allowances. Is he ashamed to do so? So much for his openness and transparency. He has now been an MEP for over five years and yet in all that time he has failed to publish his full accounts. What has he to hide? See: LINK

In the interests openness of Junius and GLW have decided to leak the details as Derek is clearly too ashamed to do it himself:

July to December 2009

This allowance is for payment to Employees, Self Employed Service Providers and Accredited Assistants who support the work of the MEP.

Any part of this allowance not used remains in the EU budget.

This allowance is for payment to Employees, Self Employed Service Providers and Accredited Assistants who support the work of the MEP.

Any part of this allowance not used remains in the EU budget.

Contracts for all are lodged for approval with the Parliament and held by them.
The Parliament makes the payment for employees to the Paying Agent, who deduct income tax and national insurance before making the net payment to the employee.

Self employed service providers have to provide invoices for approval firstly by the Paying Agent and then the Parliament, who makes the payment directly to them.

Any staff based in Brussels are known as accredited assistants and are paid direct by the Parliament. At no time in any of these cases does any money go into the MEPs bank account.

Staff

MEP's Personal Assistant Full time in the UK
MEP's Constituency Representative Full time in the UK
MEP's General Assistant Full time in the UK
MEP's Accredited Assistant Full time in the Brussels

No paid family members.

Paying agent: DNG Dove Naish, Chartered Accountants

General Expenditure Allowance

This allowance covers the cost of carrying out the duties of an MEP not covered by other allowances, including running an office and associated expenditure.

All costs incurred meet the published Parliamentaty rules.

Office management and running costs £2,551
Office equipment £1,917
Communication costs £1,588
Stationery , periodicals, subscriptions £1,495
Travel and related costs £144
Representation, meetings and briefings £125
TOTAL £7,820

Travel to and from Parliament (Brussels and Strasbourg)
Number of return journeys 11

Daily Subsistence Allowance

A fixed allowance is paid for days attended at the parliament to cover the cost of hotels, meals and any other incidental costs

Number of days 28

End of accounts.

Now it would seem that Derek has drawn roughly £18,000 more than he has spent. That would make a clear bonus of about £36,000 a year!

It is also interesting to note that he has only worked for 28 days since June 4th 2009. But at his age we are frankly surprised that he can even manage that!

He lists just four staff members. He fails to name them. So who are they? An allowance of roughly £195,000 sounds to us like a massive rate of pay for just four people!

Now we can understand why OLAF is taking such an interest in Clark and his Regional Organiser!

As you will know Clark has been under investigation by the EU’s anti-fraud body OLAF. It is claimed that Derek Clark used EP money to employ a person (Andrew Fear) who in fact worked as a membership officer for UKIP in the party headquarters in Devon and who did no work for Clark as an MEP. This would appear to be against EU expenses rules.

Derek Clark OLAF Case Number: D/007/033/04.09.08

Derek Clark OLAF Investigation Number: DD/FD-
D2008.A1/7133/OF/2008/0240

We all know that Don Ransome is paid £800 a week but is he really worth such a colossal amount? He now has to rely on public transport - following his drink driving conviction - and also appears to be unable to provide even basic information to UKIPPERS.

At Monday's Newark meeting he was asked what members should do if they wish to stand as a PPC. He became confused and told them to find it out for themselves. Someone should have told him that the meeting was supposed to be about fighting the General Election!

We are sure that the British taxpayer will be pleased to know that Derek employs a man who is such a fountain of knowledge!

At the start of this post we mentioned Lord Lucan. He has asked us to send you his regards. He was going to vote UKIP but has now changed his mind. He thinks Farage is a crook. As a former Lord he can't been seen associating with such a Spiv.

Also see: LINK