It may be St Nigel's opinion, overstating his case , but an 85% increase in MEP's "entertainment budget" is hardly politic is it ? Even if that amounts to a comparatively tiny amount of the increase, it doesn't look good and suggests an unfortunate attitude in those who've proposed it. How well will that part of the budget be policed? The UK is very slow to give any tax allowance for entertaining. It's doubtful whether the EU, in granting such an allowance, will be the same.