Farage Must Explain UKIP's Missing Millions

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th May 2009

Ed Davey MP, Chair of the Liberal Democrats' Campaigns and Candidates Committee has written to Nigel Farage challenging him to publish UKIP MEPs' expense claims and to account for their shameful record of voting for perks and secrecy in the European Parliament. Davey said:

"When he first went to Brussels, Nigel Farage promised to publish his accounts annually 'so the public can inspect them' .

"But since then neither he nor any of his henchmen have published a thing.

"UKIP MEPs have attacked others over their expenses while living the highlife in Brussels, charging the taxpayer, and hiding the true cost from voters.

"One in six UKIP MEPs elected in 2004 has since faced criminal charges over their creative accounting: the equivalent of 108 Westminster MPs .

"Meanwhile, they turn up in the European Parliament to vote against a cap on MEPs' earnings, against reforms to make travel more transparent , and for laws aimed at keeping their expenses secret .

"It's one thing to complain about MPs' expenses.

"Quite another to point the finger while hiding the truth about yourself.

"UKIP's absent accounting, elusive expenses, and secret squirrel attitude add up to bare-faced cheek.

"I want Mr Farage to explain to the public where the money has gone and why they have voted against change.

"They should end the hypocrisy and show us the money now."

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

Seven Days, Meridian TV, 25 July 1999

Ashley Mote MEP, convicted on 17 August 2007 Mote on twenty one charges of deception by falsely claiming £65,506 in benefits; Tom Wise MEP charged in April 2009 with false accounting and money laundering

23 June 2005 UKIP MEPs vote against the Gargani Report on a new Members' Statute that standardised MEPs' pay and ensured that MEP travel is reimbursed on the basis of receipts rather than a lump-sum equivalent of a business class ticket

March 2009, UKIP MEPs voted to exempt freedom of access to MEPs' personal files and accounts (amendment 114 to the Cashman Report)