Local MEP Slams Brussels 'Gravy-Train'

4.00.07pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 27th Apr 2009

Local Member of the European Parliament, Chris Davies, has expressed his dismay at the system of expenses in the European Parliament that can see MEPs become millionaires in just two terms. The rules allow MEPs to employ family members who can be paid up to £500,000 over one term, just one of the ways in which some members manipulate the system to take home more money themselves.

Another aspect of the system which has come under fire is the payment of a flat-rate reimbursement for travel expenses, without regard for how much is actually spent on travel by MEPs, meaning many make a profit traveling to and from Brussels and Strasbourg.

Commenting on the BBC's 'Politics Show, Chris Davies said:

"The rules that we have in place in Parliament are not those that we would expect of any other public institution in Europe spending public money.

"I employ 4 or 5 people but if I wanted to simply pay my wife with that money, instead of her doing her job as a teacher, I could have done so, and over a five year period that would have given me half a million (pounds).

"I get a ridiculous amount of money for my travel expenses- I make a surplus on that- I feel it's dirty money so I don't put it in to my own pocket".

You can watch Chris speaking about this on the 'Politics Show' on the BBC iPlayer until next week. Scroll to 14 minutes to see Chris talk about this subject:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00k8629/The_Politics_Show_North_West_26_04_2009/