UKIP Uncovered

UKIP Uncovered
What motivates the leaders of the United Kingdom Independence Party?

Monday, March 29, 2004

Blocking Off the Trough

A contributor to an internet discussion forum 'eurofaq' spelt out the requirements one anti-EU party is imposing on its candidates in the coming June elections:-

".... let me share with you how another party is planning to deal with any future MEPs':

' For a start, every prospective MEP has had to agree that 40% of their salary, after tax, will be paid to the Party nationally, so as to pay for additional HO staff, and a properly financed legal team.

- the same percentage of the Attendance Allowance must also be given up to pay for staff, within the Region.

As to the 8,000 pounds per month secretarial expenses. This must be paid by any MEP to individual workers chosen, wait for it, yes, chosen, by the Party, to do the work for which the money is officially intended!

Any potential staff members, i.e. researchers and secretarial staff, employed because of MEP funding will be interviewed by the collective leadership, and be appointed on merit, taking the MEP's own preferences into account, but not being bound by them.

There will, in short, be no such thing as a ' free ' lunch at the party's - or the long-suffering taxpayers expense '.

That contributor, who was responding to a suggestion that some constraints be put upon UKIP's MEP candidates by the party then added ' Not quite the same proposals as laid out.... , but nonetheless, a damned sight better than the arrangements enjoyed by Farage & co. Indeed, can anyone honestly see any UKIP MEP agreeing to be bound by such constraints? The fact that they wouldn't proves that their interest in EUroparl. is more akin to the feeding trough than to the well being of Britain'.

In fact there was an agreement at the time of the last European elections, and I presume it must indeed have been signed by the three successful UKIP candidates. This agreement quoted below, had to be signed by all UKIP candidates at the last Euro elections, as it formed the basis of the party's manifesto commitment:-

"Recognising the widespread corruption in the EU, all UKIP candidates have given written undertakings which prevent them benefiting personally from their expenses and allowances as MEPs. They have also undertaken to make their expense accounts available publicly".

(We shall look forward to seeing those expense accounts which we will then summarise on this blog during the course of the coming campaign!)

Before trusting the party with its vote this time, the electorate might well ask how far last time's 'solemn declaration' has been adhered to by candidates and NEC. Have all European parliament allowances been used as directed by the NEC? Has a trust fund been established by the NEC, and received all MEPs' excess expenses? Has the NEC received detailed quarterly
accounts from the MEPs as promised?

If not, why not?

----------

Candidates' Agreement - 1999 European Elections

quote

UKIP Euro Campaign Office, PO Box 1714, Salisbury SP1 2UQ
22/04/99

Dear candidate

The National Executive has agreed that all candidates should be obliged to sign a declaration covering the use of allowances and expenses by this party's MEPs. I should therefore be grateful if you would complete and return to me the attached form, signed and witnessed
as indicated, by Friday 30 April latest.

Official nomination papers, which must be signed by all candidates and reserves, will be sent out in due course.

Yours sincerely
pp Michael Holmes
-------------------

Declaration by all UK Independence Party candidates

I . . . . . of . . . . .hereby solemnly declare and covenant that in consideration of my nomination by the United Kingdom Independence Party as a candidate for the . . . .region in the European Parliamentary election to take place on June 10 1999 I will:

(1) use all allowances generated as a result of my membership of the European Parliament as directed by the United Kingdom Independence Party National Executive Committee and in a manner consistent with the EU regulations for the use of such expenses.

(2) pay all expenses over and above those necessarily and reasonably used by me in fulfilment of my duties as a Member of the European Parliament into a trust fund to be established by the said National Executive Committee for interalia the assistance and/or defence of victims of European Union regulations.

(3) provide the said National Executive Committee with a quarterly detailed account of monies received and expended under (1) and (2) above.

Signed
Dated
Signed in the presence of
(Name and address of witness in Block Capitals)
Signature of witness:
Dated

ENDS

These questions, (with others we will be suggesting during the course of this week), will be worthwhile raising at next saturdays AGM when UKIP's Party Treasurer John de Roeck will be presenting the accounts. A reminder of the time and place:-

The event will be held at 2pm Saturday, 3rd April at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1 4RL The meeting is for paid up members only, and membership cards should be presented.

posted by Martin |8:31 AM