wmlro.com: EU gets tough on MEP's expenses claims

73 year year old Ashley Mote has the unwelcome distinction of being jailed for fiddling his expense claims submitted to the European Parliament. MEPs have long been regarded as being on a "gravy train" with allowances - particularly in relation to travel and office expenses - that are set at levels already seen by many as far too high. Indeed, the allowances row is one of the reasons that there is frequent argument as to whether there should be a permanent seat of government: at present, the EP shuttles between Strasbourg in France and Brussels in Belgium - meaning MPs cannot maintain just one base - and their entire entourage travels with them as they move back and forth.

But the EP has a reputation for failing to fully understand the expenses claims - and being far too trusting. Some MEPs, rumour says, have built up tidy sums in nest eggs as they find ways to claim for flights they don't take and hotels they don't stay in.

Mote, an MP for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) (which is opposed to European integration) jailed in 2007 for nine months slipped under the wire so far as his job was concerned: only a jail term of a year or more disqualifies him from returning to his seat. So he has - although he no longer sits as a representative of UKIP. He was convicted of fraudulent claims of almost GBP70,000.

But that pales into insignificance against the GPB445,000 that the UK's Conservative Chief Whip (enforcer) in the EP has been ordered to repay: he is accused of making "unaccountable expenditure." But no criminal charges have been brought against him.

Yesterday, Tom Wise, a 60 year old MEP who took his seat as a representative of UKIP but has since been thrown out of the party, was charged with false accounting and money laundering. Together with his researcher, Miss Lindsay Jenkins, he is accused that, for a year from November 2004, he claimed expenses for the services of Miss Jenkins - but the money was paid into his own bank account not hers, and out of the sum of almost GBP40,000 he paid into his account, he handed to her only GBP13,555.

A UK newspaper first raised the issue of Wise's technique - and that led OLAF, the EU's anti-fraud department - to investigate. UKIP sacked him, and he started to refund the money.

But the case has not been brought directly by OLAF which is an investigation but not prosecuting agency. And so it passed the results of its inquiry to the Economic Crime Unit at Bedfordshire Police for further investigation in the UK. They reviewed the case and concluded that there was a case to answer. Then it was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service which, after further consideration, decided that charges should be laid.

Wise's defence lawyer, Stephen Welfare, has stated his defence: 1) the money has been repaid and 2) lots of other politicians including ministers make fraudulent expenses claims. Oh, and he denies any intent to decieve or that what he did was unlawful.

Wise and Jenkins are listed to appear in the Westminster Magistrates' Court next week but that is likely to be a formal hearing at which time they will either be remanded on bail pending further investigation or the case committed to the Crown Court for trial.