L to R: Ian Hudghton, Catherine Stihler, Struan Stevenson
Euro MPs seeking re-election, are refusing to give details of their own expenses - despite the scandal rocking Westminster. The SNP and Labour said they would publish details of their candidates' expenses only if they are elected on June 4.
With all hopefuls promising to clean up MEPs' expenses the Courier yesterday tried to discover how much taxpayer's money is being claimed by three candidates hoping to be returned to Brussels for another five-year-stint, Labour's Catherine Stihler, the SNP's Ian Hudghton and Tory Struan Stevenson.
However Mr Stevenson, who five years ago was caught signing in at the European Parliament and leaving straight away, was the only candidate prepared to expose details of his expenses to public scrutiny online. His latest expenses show travel costs to Brussels and Strasbourg of €16,000 and his travel at home in Scotland another £6,486. He claimed €16,000 for 56 days' attendance at a rate of about £250 a day on top of a salary of £68,000.
Ms Stihler has been very vocal about demanding greater transparency for MEPs' expenses but, although her website provides details of how many staff she employs, there are no details of her claims or the amounts she has received in expenses.
Mr Hudghton says he too will only publish details of his expenses after the Euro election on 4 June. "I am committed, as are all SNP candidates and MEPs, to publishing allowance claims and expenditure in the future and for the previous parliamentary term, to the same principles and high standard as the Holyrood parliament as soon as is practicable with the most recent six months a priority and I hope all Scotland's European candidates will agree to do the same."
Not nearly good enough Ms Stihler and Mr Hudghton, 'as soon as is practicable' is an opt-out and a weak excuse. You all have staff who should have your accounts up to date, after all we pay for you and them. I want to see how much the present incumbents have spent before I place my cross, not after and it is my view that many will feel the same.
To say I'm not pleased with the SNP's handling of the expenses debacle, both at Westminster and now Europe, is putting it mildly. They appear to be keeping their heads in the sand in the hope that the issue will eventually drift out of the headlines. Let me assure Alex Salmond, the public now want to know how their money is being spent and it's up to you to show leadership and publish these accounts now - not after 4 June. Even though Struan Stevenson was found to be cheating, now he's making his expenses transparent he'll receive far more votes than he deserves.
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19 comments:
Yes. I think we should be able to judge candidates on a "value for money" basis, and we can't do that without knowing how much they cost us.
It's shameful the SNP and Labour won't show them Tris. Bit like buying something wrapped in brown paper only to find when it's unwrapped that it's rotten.
No matter what the reasons, everyone has to be squeaky clean now, and - for once- incumbents are being hindered by their existing record. Simple aggregates of travel, office costs, stationery, etc. would be more than enough in the days before the election to confirm an attitude of open-ness. Detail can come later.
I'm sure most of us would agree that the hardest-working of MEP's would probably have a lot of costs all round. (For instance, London is over 1000 km closer to Brussels than, say, Lerwick.)
Honesty will be its own reward..!
You say it so much better than me Mek. What I don't like is the attitude buy before you try. Not good and I would have thought the SNP were above that.
There can only be one reason for Hudghton's position - he feels that if we knew his expenses we wouldn't vote for him. The EP is a train overflowing with thicker, deeper gravy than Westminster, and it sounds as if oor Ian is steeping himself in it. If he doesn't come clean before the election I won't be voting SNP - and I'm a member. Let's shoot the bastards with a ball of their own shit: c'mon, MEPs- if you've nothing to hide, you've nothing to fear! Here's the deal - no transparency on expenses, no votes.
And let's start talking about independence OUTSIDE the EU. Drag the snouts away from the biggest trough of all.
My thoughts exactly Vronsky and I'm really disappointed with Ian Hudghton's stance on this. Far better if he shows his greed rather than this very obvious attempt at hiding it.
As yet I haven't made a firm decision, but if the SNP don't come clean before the 4 June, I will possibly spoil my ballot paper. Sadly then some will be elected through default and perhaps that's the result he wants.
"Openness and transparency is the only game"
So why can't the gravy trainers bite the bullet?
Sorry Rosa, but I shall be voting UKIP on June 4th. I do not say they are pure as the driven snow, but we have to send a message to the main parties that we are very very pissed off.
Any candidate, or any party for that matter, who does not hang their head in shame, should make plans to spend more time with their families.
It is disgraceful that the SNP candidate is shying away from this.The only conclusion must be that he has something to hide, and there is no longer a safe haven in politics for such slime.
Oh I'd best explain saying 'Indy I've deleted your comment'. Indy sent me a comment asking me not to publish it, but she hadn't noticed comment moderation had been taken off in the past 24 hours (just to see how it goes).
So, her comment came straight onto here and I deleted it because she asked me not to publish it.
Is that understandable? Do hope so.
Vronsky said:
"And let's start talking about independence OUTSIDE the EU."
Aye.
Subrosa
you are a very very very naughty girl daring to criticise the snp.
and anti-European union to boot well I never.
Um! what did indy post(very intriguing) I promise not to tell the others.
SR,
Transparency is the best way forward, Big Eck was challenged on this last night and he explained succinctly - he was being accused of taking money to feed himself when he was there (Westmidden), she implied that he wasn't and tried to run roughshod over his reply - she didn't half look amateur and desperate to be taken seriously.
Oh well! Can't win them all, all 3 should be publishing their expenses - feck me can you imagine the amount the Kinnocks have screwed out of the taxpayer over the years?
Crazy D
Excellent post there.
If polititians want us to vote in this "important" election, they better start by convincing us to make the right choice. Starting with this issue, especially as the European Parlament is more corrupt htan Westminster.
At the moment, i am voting for "none of the above" - none of them deserve it yet.
Indeed Allan and I think many would agree with you. It's not what MEPs have done for anyone it's what it has cost each and every one of us.
It's quite insulting that the SNP and Labour refuse to publish expenses before the elections and the tories have been forced into it because of their cheats.
Shame the SNP won't take the honest approach and just do it.
Not quite accurate, SR, the quote is
“I am committed as are all SNP candidates and MEPs to publishing allowance claims and expenditure, in the future and for the previous parliamentary term to the same principles and high standard as the Holyrood parliament as soon as is practicable with the most recent six months a priority and I hope all Scotland’s European candidates will agree to do the same.”
He's not delaying until the election, he's saying it will be done as soon as possible. I know, too, that his staff are working to get the details up as soon as possible.
There's a decent explanation of how the EU allowances work on Alyn Smith's website at http://www.alynsmith.eu/mep-allowances.html
I don't know how to put a hyperlink in comments, I'm afraid.
Hello Calum. Your quote is exactly the same as mine.
The Courier says though' Labour and the SNP said they would publish details of their candidates’ expenses only if they are elected on June 4.' That nearer the start of the article Calum.
Why couldn't the Courier find out the basic facts of the SNP and Labour allowances when they easily acquired the tory ones?
There's only 2 weeks until the election and I would have thought the SNP could have been way ahead of the game so very easily. If the last 6 months are difficult then each MEP could publish the 6 months before that.
What think ye?
The SNP are starting to look a wee bit suspect here, I hope they are not going to fall at the final fence.
Karin Dunbar covered this situation very weel with her famous quote; "Ah smell shite."
Yup, I lifted the quote from the Courier story and it's an example of how even a decent scribe like Steve Bargeton can make a wee error or two - the Hudge didn't say it would be after the election, he said "as soon as practicable" and that they would be to the same standard as Holyrood (apparently now the benchmark for good allowances practices).
Struan Stevenson hasn't published his expenses, he's just tripped out the standard rates he gets for flights and attendance (MEPs don't submit receipts for travel, they get the cost of economy class travel from their nearest airport, and the attendance allowance is also a fixed rate which is supposed to pay for their stay in Brussells or Strasbourg). The other 6 MEPs will have roughly the same claims, although their travel in Scotland may be a bit different.
I would imagine the last six months would be the easiest, being on the top of the expenses pile. The work involved will be in getting the individual claims up on the website.
My MP Pete's done a fine job Calum so I can't see the problem for Ian.
It really would do the SNP's cause good if they organised this right away, all it needs is a scanner. If I lived nearer I'd offer to do it for them!
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