MEP expenses report published

Dutch MEP Paul Van Buitenen has published the recent controversial report on MEP's expenses, which the Socialists and Conservatives on the European Parliament's Budget Control Committee voted to hush up. It certainly makes interesting reading and gives even stronger credibility to the ALDE calls for greater transparency in expenses and the introduction of an "Assistants Charter" for Parliamentary staff.

The summary report can be found at: http://www.paulvanbuitenen.nl/download/actualiteit/20080304_Summary_EP_Audit_report_06-02.pdf

Hat tip to Consider This.

Tory MEP booted out of EPP group in European Parliament

South East England Tory MEP Daniel Hannan has been expelled from the right-of-centre European Peoples Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament after making a speech in which he compared the Parliament's rules to those of Nazi Germany.

Back in January Hannan made a speech complaining about the rules enforced by Parliament's president Hans-Gert Poettring which prevented a number of right-wing MEPs from continually disrupting business in the chamber. He said that only his respect for the German Poettring prevented him from comparing moves to curb disruption in the chamber with powers seized by Adolf Hitler in 1933.

The spineless UK Tory group in the parliament have failed to withdraw their whip from him to date with mealy mouthed Chief Whip, Den Dover MEP, saying "What he said was nothing to do with Conservative Party policy." That may be true but it is crass cowardice for them to allow this man to remain in the Tory delegation. Perhaps Davie boy Cameron will get rid of this wart - more likely that he'll sit on his hands and hope it all blows over.

Astonishingly Hannan tried to justify his comments by saying that they were a "dignified protest within the rules."

UPDATE: I see from his own Torygraph blog that the expulsion happened last week. my apologies if this is old news but I somehow must have missed it!

All quiet on the Euro selection front

We in the Scottish Lib Dems are in the middle of the process to select our party list for the 2009 European elections. As an employee of the current MEP, who is retiring, I'm making no public pronouncements about who I'm supporting to replace her.

However I shall make one public comment on this election: Are you shy folks? There are 8 of you running for top of the list but only one of you has been in touch to ask for my 1st preference. Speaking to friends and relatives across Scotland I find that most of them have been only contacted by one candidate. It's an open contest so why so reticent?

Scottish Lib Dem visit to European Parliament

As part of my day job I organise (subsidised) trips to the European Parliament in Brussels for members of the Scottish Lib Dems. generally we have a three day trip with time spent in Parliament as well as time for shopping, sightseeing & socialising. Most people report that they enjoy these trips. Ask Catherine about the one in October '05 - that's when we started dating!

I'm looking for expressions of interest for a trip which I'm going to pencil into the diary for the week commencing Monday 4th June. I'm sure there are going to be a whole load of new Lib dem Councillors who could do with a wee break after the hectic campaigning and new experience of being elected.

If you would be interested in joining me, indeed watching me do the equivalent of herding cats in a thunderstorm, please get in touch.

Whoops!

In listing some of my Lib Dem committments I forgot the two most important. The lady from Kinross-shire, who brings sunshine into my life, happens to be a Lib Dem activist and Council candidate & I work as Liaison Officer to Elspeth, our Scottish MEP. That'll be me in the doghouse then.