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Tory crackdown on MEPs' expenses Tory crackdown on MEPs' expenses
(40 minutes later)
Conservative leader David Cameron has launched a new crackdown on his MEPs' expenses, saying he wants to "deep clean" the claims process. Conservative leader David Cameron has launched a new crackdown on his MEPs' expenses, saying he wants to "deep clean" the process.
All Tory MEPs will have to fill out a "right to know form" with details of expenses they have claimed.All Tory MEPs will have to fill out a "right to know form" with details of expenses they have claimed.
"I'm setting out a series of measures to bring more transparency," he said.
It follows the resignation of Giles Chichester, the party's leader in Brussels, after he admitted breaking European Parliament rules on expenses.It follows the resignation of Giles Chichester, the party's leader in Brussels, after he admitted breaking European Parliament rules on expenses.
Mr Cameron said it was "unacceptable" for MEPs to be able to make claims without anyone knowing what they are for and said his party would operate a stricter code than that applying to other MEPs. Labour said the Tories had finally caught up with their expenses regime.
But Mr Cameron said his proposed code for the Conservatives would be stricter than that which applied to other parties' MEPs.
He said it was "unacceptable" for MEPs to be able to make claims without anyone knowing what they are for.
'Not a pose''Not a pose'
But he conceded that by cracking down on the process, he was laying his party open to claims of abuse. And he denied it was a cosmetic exercise designed to make the Tories appear tough on sleaze.
"It's not a pose," he told reporters, adding: "I'm genuinely trying to sort this out"."It's not a pose," he told reporters, adding: "I'm genuinely trying to sort this out".
I think everybody knows it is time for a deep clean David CameronConservative leaderI think everybody knows it is time for a deep clean David CameronConservative leader
Under the plans, which come into effect in September, Tory MEPs will have to publish the names of any relatives they employ, their approximate salary and details of any other staff members paid from public funds.Under the plans, which come into effect in September, Tory MEPs will have to publish the names of any relatives they employ, their approximate salary and details of any other staff members paid from public funds.
And twice a year, Tory MEPs will be required to publish a breakdown of their expenditure under European Parliament allowances.And twice a year, Tory MEPs will be required to publish a breakdown of their expenditure under European Parliament allowances.
Anyone wanting to stand as a Tory MEP will have to sign up to the rules.Anyone wanting to stand as a Tory MEP will have to sign up to the rules.
'Right to know' Mr Cameron said: "I think everybody knows it is time for a deep clean.
"I think everybody knows it is time for a deep clean," said Mr Cameron. "I believe these changes will help to ensure that the delegation of British Conservative MEPs are committed and, importantly, are seen to be committed to high standards of propriety in public life."
"I believe these changes will help to ensure that the delegation of British Conservative MEPs are committed and are, importantly, seen to be committed to high standards of propriety in public life." 'Robust' negotiations
The new scheme will be equivalent to one established for Conservative frontbenchers at Westminster. He added: "I don't pretend that any party is whiter than white or purer than pure, but my job with our MEPs is to sort our own stuff out and that is what we're doing."
Mr Cameron said he had agreed the new rules with the acting leader of the Tory group in Brussels, Philip Bushell-Matthews, who would be signing up to the code along with the "vast majority" of the party's MEPs.
We throw out our bad apples - Mr Cameron lets them sign one form and be re-elected Nigel FarageUKIP leaderWe throw out our bad apples - Mr Cameron lets them sign one form and be re-elected Nigel FarageUKIP leader
A document outlining Tory MPs' expenses will be published next week. But he acknowledged that negotiations with his new financial trouble-shooter, Hugh Thomas, had been "robust" at times and some MEPs who plan to step down at next June's elections may choose not to sign up.
Mr Cameron said: "By publishing this stuff it will be possible for people to have a go at us, but in the end it is public money. People do have a right to know." "Any Conservative candidate wishing to stand in the European Parliament elections in 2009 will need to sign up to these requirements before they can be nominated," he said.
Current European Parliament investigations into Giles Chichester and chief whip Den Dover should be allowed to take their course, he said, although he indicated he was ready to take action if wrongdoing was uncovered.
Bonuses paid to MEPs' staff will be limited to 15% of their annual salary and MEPs will have to confirm that they have repaid any surpluses from their upfront allowances to the European Parliament.
'Right to know'
In April, the Tories announced that their MEPs would have to declare who they employ, whether they are related to them and how much they are paid, within £10,000.In April, the Tories announced that their MEPs would have to declare who they employ, whether they are related to them and how much they are paid, within £10,000.
They were also told they would have to publish an annual statement of expenses and travel allowances which will have to be checked by an independent accountant.They were also told they would have to publish an annual statement of expenses and travel allowances which will have to be checked by an independent accountant.
Mr Chichester stepped down after paying thousands of pounds in staff allowances to a firm of which he is a paid director.Mr Chichester stepped down after paying thousands of pounds in staff allowances to a firm of which he is a paid director.
The MEP for South West England and Gibraltar said he had not realised the European Parliament's rules had changed and vowed to clear his name.The MEP for South West England and Gibraltar said he had not realised the European Parliament's rules had changed and vowed to clear his name.
Commenting on Mr Cameron's proposals, UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said it was "more a whitewash than a 'deep clean'" Under the new rules, Conservative MEPs will no longer be allowed to use so-called service companies to handle the employment of staff members.
"We throw out our bad apples" he added. 'Kicking and screaming'
"Mr Cameron lets them sign one form and be re-elected." From the end of this financial year, they will be required to provide an independent accountant with an annual statement of expenses, including a summary of amounts claimed and how they were spent.
But Mr Cameron said there would be no requirement to provide receipts for every piece of expenditure, as at Westminster.
Commenting on Mr Cameron's proposals, the leader of the Labour's MEPs, Gary Titley, said: "Finally, after eight years, the Tory Party has caught up with the Labour MEPs' regime for dealing with expenses.
"The difference between them is that all 19 of Labour MEPs have signed up to this, but the evidence is that many Conservative MEPs have to be dragged kicking and screaming in to doing the right thing.'"
UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said Mr Cameron's proposals were "more a whitewash than a 'deep clean'".
"We throw out our bad apples," he said, adding: "Mr Cameron lets them sign one form and be re-elected."