Saint Nigel with his nose in the trough
Discussion
Looking forward to see the UKIPH defence for his actions.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/1076...
Nigel Farage could face an expenses inquiry into allegations concerning £60,000 of missing European Union funds paid into his personal bank account.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/1076...
Nigel Farage could face an expenses inquiry into allegations concerning £60,000 of missing European Union funds paid into his personal bank account.
Nigel said:
However, he insisted that he legitimately spent more than £1,000 a month to run the 620 sq ft property.
UKIP said:
Nigel Farage is confident that he has abided by European parliamentary rules at all times when spending allowances.
UKIP said:
The Lyminster office is not the sole address that incurs expenditure in the pursuance of Mr Farage’s job as an MEP, though it is the most important one.
the article also said:
All MEPs receive a general expenditure allowance of about £3,800 a month to rent and run an office.
No MEP is required to file receipts to show how this money is spent, opening the system to potential abuse.
Mr Farage accepted that MEPs “don’t need any receipts or any justification” to receive EU allowances. He said he used his allowance to run the grain store as well as a smaller office at his home.
He said: “I don’t pay rent on the office but I obviously pay for everything else.”
Even an article trying to smear him/UKIP contains a lot of comments that support the fact that maybe, just maybe, this is a bit of a non-story.No MEP is required to file receipts to show how this money is spent, opening the system to potential abuse.
Mr Farage accepted that MEPs “don’t need any receipts or any justification” to receive EU allowances. He said he used his allowance to run the grain store as well as a smaller office at his home.
He said: “I don’t pay rent on the office but I obviously pay for everything else.”
So, No receipts are required from any MEP to show where this allowance has gone.
How then do OLAF go about showing he did not spend the money ?
How many other MEPs are running a similar system of operations ?
Just shows how loose and easy the EU allowance system is and where some of the billions are wasted in this odd little federalist experiment.
Fail for UKIP but a bigger fail for the EU.
How then do OLAF go about showing he did not spend the money ?
How many other MEPs are running a similar system of operations ?
Just shows how loose and easy the EU allowance system is and where some of the billions are wasted in this odd little federalist experiment.
Fail for UKIP but a bigger fail for the EU.
Edited by Getragdogleg on Tuesday 15th April 09:04
Getragdogleg said:
TKF, have the "UKIPH" reactions been as you were expecting so far ?
They're interchangeable reactions to any negative story regards UKIP.Farage could be found on live TV with a dead priest on his dick and 24 box files full of child porn and proof of tax evasion and it would all be some kind of non story / establishment conspiracy against him.
don4l said:
Total non story.
Every MEP is paid a fixed monthly allowance.
Yet some people think that only one MEP should refuse to accept this payment.
The desperate tactics have started. We can expect much more nonsense like this in the run up to the EU elections.
I tend to agree - this has all the hallmarks of Clegg trying to get his own back after the mauling he received and perhaps other senior leaders realising that episode might have prompted UKIP to be taken much more seriously.Every MEP is paid a fixed monthly allowance.
Yet some people think that only one MEP should refuse to accept this payment.
The desperate tactics have started. We can expect much more nonsense like this in the run up to the EU elections.
The problem both here and with the Miller situation is the rule base. Our elected (and unelected it seems) officials are taking the piss royally and there is absolutely no sign that it is about to stop any time soon.
The EU has stepped well outside its remit across the board and needs it's leash yanked. Do that and there'd be little need for the bloated budget (expenses or otherwise).
The UK has a rigid expenses framework already and its MPs should live by it (not their own rules - same as all the other laws and rules they don't have to follow).
10 Pence Short said:
They're interchangeable reactions to any negative story regards UKIP.
Farage could be found on live TV with a dead priest on his dick and 24 box files full of child porn and proof of tax evasion and it would all be some kind of non story / establishment conspiracy against him.
That would be upsetting as it would be evidence he has joined the Conservatives...Farage could be found on live TV with a dead priest on his dick and 24 box files full of child porn and proof of tax evasion and it would all be some kind of non story / establishment conspiracy against him.
Getragdogleg said:
So, No receipts are required from any MEP to show where this allowance has gone.
How then do OLAF go about showing he did not spend the money ?
How many other MEPs are running a similar system of operations ?
Just shows how loose and easy the EU allowance system is and where some of the billions are wasted in this odd little federalist experiment.
Fail for UKIP but a bigger fail for the EU.
This, pretty much. I have to account for every item I want to expense to my employer with receipts, it's accepted practice everywhere else.How then do OLAF go about showing he did not spend the money ?
How many other MEPs are running a similar system of operations ?
Just shows how loose and easy the EU allowance system is and where some of the billions are wasted in this odd little federalist experiment.
Fail for UKIP but a bigger fail for the EU.
I can't quite see how it could be proven either way unless receipts are needed. If it was fraudulently claimed, you can bet Farage is currently putting together a list of 'legitimate' unreceipted expenses to cover the amount so how will OLAF ever prove it?
Similarly, if it's a smear story made up by a disgruntled ex party member (or, tinfoil hat time - Tory HQ) - how can Farage ever prove his innocence?
Mark Benson said:
This, pretty much. I have to account for every item I want to expense to my employer with receipts, it's accepted practice everywhere else.
..
I guess it depends how it's paid - if it's a genuine "allowance" (much like London weighting used to be for example) then it would likely just get paid a la salary...
If it's genuinely an expense type account, then I agree.
Either way the much bigger travesty is the amount of money the EU spunks on MEPs overall. And then has the temerity to try and tell the rest of us how we must live.
don4l said:
What do you think that he has done wrong?
Claim £60k in allowances that UKIP says it "doesn't want. We don't want British MEP's costing the taxpayers all this money". Way to make a stand, Nige.Then on the UKIP website they want to be transparent and show where the money goes and this allowance had gone to pay for his office. Except the office is entirely rent free.
Everyone is at it and frankly I don't blame them. I'd rinse it for all it was worth given half the chance.
This thread is more about the blinkered UKIPHers who would stand up for Nige whatever he does. And, predictably, they have.
Guam said:
I would bet that Dennis Healy and Neil Kinnocks annual restaurant bills exceed that figure, for their dining out in Strasbourg alone, I have witnessed the Great and the good stuffing their faces every day at the very best eateries Strasbourg has on offer and buying the very best Vintage wines YOUR money can buy, I would start there if you want to hunt down largesse.
This tactic comes up rather a lot. There is a criticism of something and, rather than address it directly, a comparison is made to someone else who may also be doing something wrong.It would make a refreshing change if people either defended the action, admitted it was wrong or provided some other explanation as to why it is ok, instead of simply saying "Oi! Look over there instead"!
Guam said:
I would bet that Dennis Healy and Neil Kinnocks annual restaurant bills exceed that figure, for their dining out in Strasbourg alone, I have witnessed the Great and the good stuffing their faces every day at the very best eateries Strasbourg has on offer and buying the very best Vintage wines YOUR money can buy, I would start there if you want to hunt down largesse.
Not sure what Denis Healey has to do with this, he's 96 now.10 Pence Short said:
It would make a refreshing change if people either defended the action, admitted it was wrong or provided some other explanation as to why it is ok, instead of simply saying "Oi! Look over there instead"!
It seems to me the system is poor - symptomatic of the failure of the Eu to get accounts audited and part of what, oestensibly, UKIP is "against". However, if Farage has exploited the loophole for personal gain, I have no more patience for him than any of the other self-interested, fiddling public FourWheelDrift said:
TKF said:
This thread is more about the blinkered UKIPHers who would stand up for Nige whatever he does. And, predictably, they have.
59% of UKIP supporters are over 65 so dementia must play a big part.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff