Tories in the trough again.

[Gromit]

"The Tory leader in the European Parliament quit the post in shame last night after he was embroiled in a sleaze scandal.

Giles Chichester stepped down after admitting he broke Brussels rules. He had channelled more than �440,000 in political expenses to his own company.

The MEP had tried to brush off the payment of taxpayers' money to a firm of which he was a paid director as a 'whoops-a-daisy' moment. "

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-102450 4/Tory-MEP-leader-quits-expenses-scandal-admit ting-having-family-payroll.html

And another one...

"But the spotlight now falls on chief whip Den Dover, who has denied any wrong-doing in paying his wife and daughter a reported �750,000 for work over nine years.

Mr Dover told BBC News he had done nothing wrong in paying his wife and daughter a reported �758,000 through an outside company for secretarial and support services over nine years."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7439351 .stm

Are there more scoundrels in the Conservative Party, or are the Labour and Liberal MEPs too dim to do these scams?

[ludwig]

They're just warming up for when they get back in office.

[R1Geezer]

He's only doing what they all do, his problem is he got caught. It's across all parties in all nations.

Billlions are pi55ed away on this corrupt monster, for christ sake it's been 14 years since they've found an accountant willing to audit the accounts!

Nepotism is rife the whole show is taking the pi55 out of the tax payers of the EU. Let's revert to the Common market, that's all you need. What a load of h0r5e sh1t I MEP's and bl00dy commissioners couldn't lay straight bed.

They've achieved what Hitler tried with the collusion of our own gutless politicians, without a shot being fired!

Makes my bl00d boil! rant over

[Iamblue]

I thought Den Dover was a porn star.

[jake-the-peg]

Apparently Dover's case is different as he claims both are qualified and were paid "market rate".

If true, it's not exactly best practice but not as bad.

Chichester apparently had been told by Cameron to make sure that everything was above board after the Conway scandel when Tory Derek Conway paid his son �1,000 a month for "reasearch" of which there was no record.

So he had no excuse.

I wonder what would happen to me working for a private company if I did what Conway did?

More than 10 days suspension I'd guess!

Apparently the Labour party have had their staff expenses independently audited since 2000

Don't know about the Lib Dems

[cardiacbleed]

lol @ ludwig you probably have a point there, tory sleeze is back in fashion

the whole of the EU does need reform that's for sure and the gravy train needs derailing, but personally i think the idea of the EU has merits and would merely want to see effective government rather than getting rid of the whole lot. after all its not like we british politicians do a great job of it is it?? i have no problem with the nationality or party that set the rules, as long as they are fair, democratic and make the country a better place...

[RevFunk]

All the same as each other

[jno]

Chichester (son of Sir Francis) was actually in charge of drawing up an expenses code of conduct. He did so but unfortunately forgot to follow it himself. A trifle careless, you might think, but I'm sure everyone wants a careless MP. (or MEP)

[sp1214]

Well they do say the Tories are on the side of Law and Order. Except when it applies to themselves of course.

[jake-the-peg]

Didn't seem to make the front page of the Telegraph website

Apparently a drop in 4x4 sales is more important.

You don't suppose it'd have made it had it been a Labour MEP do you?

Nah!

[youngmafbog]

Jake, true but would it have made the front page of the guardian if it had been a labour person.

Lets face it all have their snouts in the trough. I dont care from what party they are I'm sick of the lot of them. Sooner we pull out the better.

Mind you we have enough problem in our own parliament and that definitiley is across party, legitimate or not its a disgrace.

[jake-the-peg]

All have their snouts in the trough whatever party?

I rather think if the Tories had had their expenses independently audited like the Labour party has for 8 years they wouldn't be in this state.

And the cheek of calling it a "whoops-a-daisy moment"

Imagine if this had been Prescott!

[R1Geezer]

MP's are not audited based on their party are they Jake? or do you mean their internal party structure?

[34years]

guy fawkes had the best idea
all bent as nine bob notes


So appologies to all who don't know what Shroedinger's cat is all about - don't sweat it.

bet the cat was not happy ?
but then again it was only a cat?





curiosity never did any harm ?




DTH

[jake-the-peg]

This was the equivilent Labour case Geezer

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/347869. stm

It was in 1999 after this all Labour MEPs have had to produce expenses and have their expesnes audited.

Unfortunately the Tory party didn't seem to think it was a necessary requirement for their MEPs at the time.

Er Liquid lunch 34 years?

[R1Geezer]

Yes but I'm confused. Do you mean that the party's own rules where changed and that they now check their own members or that the parliamentary exes mob singled out Labour for extra checks. I was under the impression that the rules apply to all mp's regardless.

[jake-the-peg]

These are Labour party rules that they brought in to audit their own off of their own bat to stop something like this happening again

It's the mark of a good leader in how they respond to a crisis

Let's watch and see what Cameron does

[anotheoldgit]

They are no different from the Labour sleaze bags.

The only difference is the Tories either resign or are sacked,. But on the other hand it takes hell and high water to get a Labour MP/MEP prised from their seat of power.

Gorballs Mick is at the top of the pile.

[jno]

tut, poor Mr Dover has been defenestrated as well

[claymore]

People often mistake Den Dover for his brother Ben