Nigel Farage - pay docked for cheating on his Euro expenses
Discussion
Choice gobbets -
Grauniad said:
Farage, who has been an MEP for 18 years, has one of the worst attendance records at the parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. He is ranked 748 out of 751 MEPs and has taken part in only 37% of votes in the current parliamentary session, according to VoteWatch Europe.
The European parliament has played an unsung role in Ukip’s success, giving the party funding and a platform it struggled to get in British elections. European parliamentary authorities have in recent years paid closer attention to how MEPs spend EU funds, after years of assuming parties would do the right thing.
In 2016 a Ukip-dominated group was denied €501,000 in EU funds after it emerged European money had been funnelled into the attempts to win Farage a seat in the 2015 UK general election.
Farage told the journalist Michael Crick last September that he had not been paid his MEP salary for several months because of the dispute over Ukip spending, but the parliament source said that was not true.
Marine Le Pen is under formal investigation by French magistrates, after she refused to repay nearly €300,000 of EU funds, following a European parliament investigation into EU funds spent by the far-right Front National leader.
The European parliament has played an unsung role in Ukip’s success, giving the party funding and a platform it struggled to get in British elections. European parliamentary authorities have in recent years paid closer attention to how MEPs spend EU funds, after years of assuming parties would do the right thing.
In 2016 a Ukip-dominated group was denied €501,000 in EU funds after it emerged European money had been funnelled into the attempts to win Farage a seat in the 2015 UK general election.
Farage told the journalist Michael Crick last September that he had not been paid his MEP salary for several months because of the dispute over Ukip spending, but the parliament source said that was not true.
Marine Le Pen is under formal investigation by French magistrates, after she refused to repay nearly €300,000 of EU funds, following a European parliament investigation into EU funds spent by the far-right Front National leader.
That Le Pen is a fascist can scarcely be denied. That Farage is a racist bigot is obvious. Is he also a fascist? In youth he showed enthusiasm for Nazi songs and so forth. You might call that mere youthful folly, but in his political career he likes to share platforms with far right leaders across Europe. In addition there is his support for Trump, a wannabe authoritarian who attacks the institutions of the United States, encourages political violence, and endorses race hate groups. So, either a fascist or a fellow traveller with fascists - take your pick.
funkycoldribena's whinge about this was an obvious diversion, as the main point here is that Farage and his party have been shown to have misused public funds for political ends. Farage is if nothing else one of the most shameless liars and frauds in contemporary politics.
funkycoldribena's whinge about this was an obvious diversion, as the main point here is that Farage and his party have been shown to have misused public funds for political ends. Farage is if nothing else one of the most shameless liars and frauds in contemporary politics.
I disagree. Not all politicians are alike. Some are trustworthy. Some seek to act in the public interest, even if they have bad ideas about what that is. Farage is, as noted above, a demagogue. The Athenian reference is apposite - the demagogues there destroyed their own city by inciting the voters to choose disastrous policy. Farage is a self interested careerist who cares nothing for the public interest, and a purveyor of falsehoods and odious views, pandering to the worst instincts of ignorant and frightened electors.
One element of Farage's schtick is to trade on public ennui with politics, and to masquerade as a non-politician, despite politics being his career.
One element of Farage's schtick is to trade on public ennui with politics, and to masquerade as a non-politician, despite politics being his career.
As on so many political subjects, references to Athens (or really to what Thucydides tells us about Athens) resonate in Brexitland. The Mytilenian Debate is bang on point on the subject of a second referendum. Democracies can change their minds. Suggesting otherwise is the authoritarian position of Cleon.
TooMany2cvs said:
gooner1 said:
How is Farrage's offence any different to our Mp's expenses fraud?
Because as far as I can tell, there aren't many politicians that
wouldn't fill their pockets with taxpayers money given the slightest chance.
Simple. The vast majority of the expenses "fraud" was within the rules - it was just that the rules were piss-takingly loose.Because as far as I can tell, there aren't many politicians that
wouldn't fill their pockets with taxpayers money given the slightest chance.
Farridge is breaking the rules. He was claiming for the cost of employing an office assistant who was doing things that were unrelated to his job as an MEP - and was, coincidentally, a UKIP staffer.
This is even more serious than MP pocket lining.
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said: The whataboutery is great but seems a bit of a diversion from what Nige the "man of the people" has been found by the EU to have been up to.
This. There are some here keen to put up smoke to defend their beloved leader, but the plain fact is that he has been exposed as the cheating scumbag that anyone with half a clue knew him to be.You are blinded by your prejudice. There has been a full investigation and Farage has been found bang to rights. He has the right to appeal to the court if he wishes. Due process and the rule of law are not popular with some Brexiteers, but they are available to Farage.
If you assert that Farage has not taken money on a fraudulent basis and has been falsely accused, do show us your proof of that.
If you assert that Farage has not taken money on a fraudulent basis and has been falsely accused, do show us your proof of that.
ClaphamGT3 said:
I have always said that Farage was fundamentally dishonest. All the usual fanboys have queued up to defend him. Now you can't - it is there for all to see; the guy is a grubby little thief
???Show me a politician, or lawyer come to that, who isn’t ‘fundamentally dishonest’.
It’s pretty clear why this s
t is being thrown at Farage, which proves my first point, and the bleatings of the EU sheep can’t obscure it. REALIST123 said:
???
Show me a politician, or lawyer come to that, who isn’t ‘fundamentally dishonest’.
It’s pretty clear why this st is being thrown at Farage, which proves my first point, and the bleatings of the EU sheep can’t obscure it.
What a ludicrous thing to say. Many politicians are honest. Sometimes wrong headed, but not dishonest. Many are dishonest, but not all. Affecting disdain for all politicians is a popular thing with authoritarians and their followers, and people like Farage play up to that big style. I shan't dignify your pathetic comment about lawyers with a response. Show me a politician, or lawyer come to that, who isn’t ‘fundamentally dishonest’.
It’s pretty clear why this s
t is being thrown at Farage, which proves my first point, and the bleatings of the EU sheep can’t obscure it. The Dangerous Elk said:
In this discussion you are a prime example of You are blinded by your prejudice are you not ?
Full investigation ? LOL
As you say this has not been judged under any law but just by a self-interested committee (not even an independent one) with an "out to get him" attitude.
There is ZERO Due process. As I said you would be the first jumping up and down & and shouting about the system/due process/"political justice" for any other reason.
There you again showing blind loyalty to your hero. Facts? You evidently are not interested in those. This must be a conspiracy, right? Or, rather more boringly, Farage has been caught out mis using public funds, after an investigation that lasted months. You put your fingers in your ears and go la la la, but that is what Farage fans do. He can go to the court if he has been mis judged. Full investigation ? LOL
As you say this has not been judged under any law but just by a self-interested committee (not even an independent one) with an "out to get him" attitude.
There is ZERO Due process. As I said you would be the first jumping up and down & and shouting about the system/due process/"political justice" for any other reason.
REALIST123 said:
???
Show me a politician, or lawyer come to that, who isn’t ‘fundamentally dishonest’.
It’s pretty clear why this st is being thrown at Farage, which proves my first point, and the bleatings of the EU sheep can’t obscure it.
Let's hope that Farage spots this post and uses it in his defence if he appeals.Show me a politician, or lawyer come to that, who isn’t ‘fundamentally dishonest’.
It’s pretty clear why this s
t is being thrown at Farage, which proves my first point, and the bleatings of the EU sheep can’t obscure it. Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff