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BNP chief Nick Griffin claims £200,000 Euro expenses
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor17 Mar 2010
BNP leader Nick Griffin was accused of joining “the expenses gravy train” today after it emerged that he has claimed hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The British National Party chief, who was elected last year as Euro MP for the North West of England, has submitted claims for more than £200,000 for his work in Brussels.
The costs, which come on top of his £82,000 MEP salary, include some £18,000 in “consultancy fees” and £10,000 in “agent fees”.
The BNP leader won his party's first seats in Strasbourg after attacking MPs for having their “snouts in the trough”.
After being accused of failing to be more open about his expenses, he has now published a version of his claims on his personal website.
Mr Griffin claimed £175,000 in “staff costs” for eight employees with titles ranging from “European researcher” to “campaigns co-ordinator”. A further £31,000 was for “office management costs”, including an office in his home. His “office costs” included £2,800 on “furnishings” and over £4,000 on “repair, maintenance and security”. Mr Griffin made a pre-election pledge to be transparent about his expenses. But he is yet to reveal how much he has claimed of his £270-a-day MEP's subsistence allowance, worth £40,000 tax-free every year, or how much he has claimed for travel.
Fellow BNP MEP Andrew Brons has not published any details of his expenses. He and Mr Griffin are jointly entitled to expenses of up to £530,000 a year. As well as staff allowances, both receive a “general expenditure allowance” worth more than £44,000 annually.
A spokesman for campaign group Searchlight said: “Griffin talked a good game on expenses before the election, but as soon as he got to Brussels he couldn't wait to jump aboard the euro expenses gravy train.”
Reader views (80)
I'm honestly disappointed. For a party that SAYS they want to get out of the EU(and I'm inclined to believe them, seeing as they're nationalists), I was hoping he would be claiming -ALL- of his expenses for everything. Even the most frivolous excuse would do.
Some people simply don't understand that the best way to crush a wasteful overblown fascist organization(where was the UK's vote on the Lisbon treaty?) like the EU is to bleed it dry.
For a smear job, this is definitely one of the more poorly thought out ones. Some things the author might want to keep in mind for future stories:
1) Nick Griffin actually posted his expenses online, like he said he would. How many other politicians have?
2) Griffin and Brons donate 10% of their MEP paycheck to local causes. Again, how many other MEPs do this?
3) He actually managed to go slightly under(or over, I'm a bit vague on the exact figures, accounting is so droll) half his expenses limit.
British politics are so fascinating compared to our own. Your patriots are branded as racist fascists and your racist fascists are labeled mainstream politicians. It's like an Orwell novel.
- Mike, Fort Worth, USA, 30/03/2010 13:24
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A non story and deliberate attack on the BNP. I seriously wish these lazy journalists would spend more time talking about the real issues in this country rather than going on a witch hunt. I’m not apologising for NG or the BNP but I am simply saying there are far bigger and nasty fish to fry… Like Mr Brown!
- Adw, Redhill, Surrey, 19/03/2010 09:02
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Nick Griffin has pocketed nothing, he has claimed less then half of what he could claim and paid staff.
No moats or sink plugs.
If I was him I would claim the whole lot and use it for party funding.
He has clearly shown what the EU is all about and why we have never had any democracy on it.
The rill cost of the EU to the UK is £300 billion, a third of our national debt.
It does not benefit the mass majority and that is why the BNP want out along with the majority of the UK
- Charlie Crofts, blackpool england, 18/03/2010 19:47
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But he can claim £500,000, and 10% of his salary is donated to charity, and anything remaining from his daily allowance goes into the English fund.
You'll be hard pressed to find any wrong doing by NG, he wont make that mistakem, sadly, hundreds of thousands will simply read your article and come to the conclusion you anted them to.
- Adrian Peirson, Hull Great Britain, 18/03/2010 19:22
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People say he only spent money on employing researchers. No they are wrong, he spent £2500 on office furniture and equipment. He really is riding the gravy train. So there.
- Graham, south london, 18/03/2010 17:44
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@SarahPollard, London.
You said:
"For a man who said he got into politics because of the expenses scandal and the dishonesty of MPs, Griffin has done a really good job of undermining himself on this one".
Where have you been? Nick Griffin has been Chairman of the British National Party sense 1997. Donkeys years before the expenses scandal.
Check your facts, and don't be brainwashed by government media.
- Steve Williams, Birmingham, 18/03/2010 17:17
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Did NG claim for a duck-house or for moat cleaning?
Did he flip his home 4 times in as many years?
No - he claimed £175k for 8 staff, plus office costs.
This is, at best, poor journalism, or, at worst, verging on being libelous, by implying that he is making false claims.
There must be an election looming.
- Lickyalips, Londonistan, 18/03/2010 12:38
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It would appear that many of the people who are making comments have no idea whatsoever about the workload of MEP's, especially those who do the job properly as I believe Mr Griffin is doing (Check his and the BNP's website)
It is sad that these people are so ignorant, but thats life.
I just wonder how many of them could take an empty unit, convert it into an office, with all the necessary furniture, accesories etc without spending money ?
As for travelleing from his home backwards and forwads every week, how do you do that wihout spending money.
So please those detractors, please and ignorance.
- John, Leicester, Leicester, 18/03/2010 11:56
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@ Evening Standard.
It doesn't really matter whether he was within his budget or not. The fact is that Griffin did not publish a full account of his expenses. He only published a 'loose account'. Politicians are spending our money and so they should have to tell us EXACTLY what they are purchasing. Jury Team argues that politicians should have to operate under the Nolan Seven Principles of Public life, just as those in the civil service have to. Three of these principles are openness, honestly and selflessness. Three qualities Griffin obviously does not possess.
For a man who said he got into politics because of the expenses scandal and the dishonesty of MPs, Griffin has done a really good job of undermining himself on this one.
- Sarahpollard, London, 18/03/2010 11:36
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Keep up the good work Nick G, it's obvious the newspapers don't have any real stories at the moment, the smear campaign is about to start and yes you guessed it: just before an election. Tis getting boring now.
- Karl Chappell, Carlisle, 18/03/2010 10:45
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@Evening Standard
Well done on exposing this cretin. I am ex-forces too and this toilet trash can go join the other expense fraudsters and depart from politics please.
If these people really did love this country and really were heroes then they would be more than ready to make the sacrifice.
The real heroes of course are our servicement and women and I have yet to see any politiican in recent times even come across (by their actions) as even moderatly moral, never mind heroic.
Nick Griffin is trash and demeans our democracy and the real work done by real heroes who defend our democratic platform and our freedom to speak out.
Well Done Evening Standard!
- Ralph Baldwin, London UK, 18/03/2010 07:59
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When you think how the assets of Nick Griffin and other BNP activists have been damaged and compromised over the years by the spiteful activities of the establishment and their media lackies, then I hope he claims the maximum.
- Isaac Brown, Nottingham, 18/03/2010 07:58
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Your hounding of a Legitimate Political Party is getting Boring now, Can you not find real stories that the real people would be interested in instead of printing your Establishment Propaganda
- Sean Witheridge, Salisbury, 18/03/2010 07:55
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When you start a business you have setup costs and wages to pay so what's the difference in this case? British politics has really gone to the dogs if this is the level of critism aimed at elected politicians.
- Ed Turner, Sydney, Australia, 18/03/2010 07:14
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And we are supposed to take this 'report' seriously after all Nu Labour has pilfered from the long suffering tax-payer! Not to mention the countless millions they have sent abroad as 'aid' - such as India, which has its own nuclear weapons and space programmes! There is one reason only for this continuing harrassment of a legal political party - because they are the only party with the genuine desire to see this country Great again, instead of lining their own pockets at our expense whilst doing the work of their New World Order paymasters.
- Chris, Bristol UK, 18/03/2010 05:17
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Scaremongering by searchlight,whatever searchlight is.They should also check other eu polititions,no,they wont do that,
- John, Benidorm,Spain, 18/03/2010 05:12
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"He (AB) and Mr Griffin are jointly entitled to expenses of up to £530,000 a year" meaning £265,000 per person, meaning Nick was well within budget.
Incidentally El Presidente, José Manuel Durão Barroso, is refusing to make his accounts public. Dutch freedom party MEP Daniël Stoep was called a fascist for even asking.
We do know his travel expenses though:
Mr Barroso's 66 travel engagements last year amounted to a total of €697,773. The 10 trips outside the EU, such as the G20 summit in Pittsburgh or the EU-Russia summit in Khabarovsk, had an average cost of €21,898 each, while his intra-EU travels cost roughly three times less per outing.
- Tom, Europe, 18/03/2010 05:11
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When are we going to see the expenses of Searchlight's elected representatives? Oh wait! They don't have any do they?
- Derek_S, Cambridge, UK, 18/03/2010 03:25
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Mark, South East London, is right. The expense system in the EU Parliament is not the same as that at Westminster, as Nigel Farage has repeatedly tried to explain. Much of the cash paid to all MEPs is in the form of fixed allowances that do not need to be 'claimed'.
Now, show me that Griffin is claiming more than any other MEP and you might have a story, but I won't be holding my breath waiting.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 18/03/2010 03:17
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NUJ BNP-hating journalists print another anti-BNP non-story(yawn:-0)!
- Cllr Lawrence Rustem,, Dagenham, 18/03/2010 02:33
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Well done nick you should be getting a lot more cant wait till the election a tue leader of the uk .
- Jim Fenis, london, 18/03/2010 00:40
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I love some, just some, of the comment's that people have said regarding his many employee & allowance. I wonder...
are you same people curious about the rest of them, or is it because he's Nick Griffin/BNP?
I would bet that Nick Griffin is more transparent than the rest, and probably less than the rest. At least he's not costing us more by trying to hide what he's spent!
- Joseph Gibdon, UK, 18/03/2010 00:02
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So there's this country, see, and the people in it a really hacked off with the political pig trough gang in power - all three parties are up to their armpits in swindles, fiddles and lies.
This guy comes along -Nick - and makes legitimate claims through the EU for what he is legally entitled to. He believes that thew whole gang should be got rid of like so much bad rubbish, and is likely to give the Labour Party a lot of trouble.
So the media employs a rancid old commie to blacken Nick's name, and help condemn the British people to years more of the bullshit. The Standard would rather see the corrupt gang presently in power given another 5 years than have as truly patriotic leader in charge, who will stop the helter skelter decline.
- Harry, Mile End, 18/03/2010 00:01
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Didnt take him long to get his nose in the trough then. Nice to know my tax is going on his office furnishings.
- Rob Smith, St Albans, 18/03/2010 00:00
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why do searchlight never talk about mass immigration? and the white working class.
- Micheal, newcastle, 17/03/2010 21:55
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The article is wrong, in as much as it is not expenses but an allowance and as such the amount is paid to all MEPs whether they use it or not.
If the writer of the article is interested, Mr Griffin's so called expenses are available on his web site for all to see.
You may be interested that from Friday, when the membership was reopened, til today (Wednesday) 1,000 people have joined the BNP, so I ask all papers to keep up the good work and keep mentioning the BNP. After all as the saying goes:- there is no such thing as bad publicity, just make sure you spell the name right.
- Ray, Coventry, England, 17/03/2010 21:22
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Some misinformed gimp said "He's a vile racist and so are his "employees"."
Er...really? As racist as the hundreds of charities registered with the Charity Commission which represent and work on behalf of one specific racial/ethnic group. How many do the ethnic English have?
Just one it's called the Steadfast Trust, but there are dozens looking after the affairs of Indian workers, Muslims, Albanians, Kurds, Afro-Caribbean "disadvantaged" communities blah-de-blah.
The word "racist" has been so over used during the past 5-6 years by scamming minorities in an attempt to lord it over the native English that it has lost its value as a negative term. Go visit a few pubs (remember those) and listen to what the hard working taxpayers who still have jobs have to say about Labour's social engineering Stasi/wardens/enforcers/uniformed perverts.
- Heimdall 2010, Commutersville Suffolk, 17/03/2010 21:08
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Good! What this nation needs are more Nationalists, not Fabians-Internationalists.
- Jack'D Ripp'D, Peckham, Sarf London, 17/03/2010 20:38
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Well well the pre elections smears against the BNP have started, and as for the average BNP member being a lazy layabout, how far wrong can you get, Im ex army 12 years and have worked all my life, including giving up my free time to coach kids, for no money, just for the joy of seeing them improve and reach their potential.
All Griffin has done is set up a proper office and created 8 jobs good on him.
If yopu seen some of the work he has done you will see he is fighting for our country, although its not publicised by the media.
Griffin you are a hero.
- Steven Thomson, Aberdeen, 17/03/2010 20:21
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Claiming expenses to run an office is not a crime and he has done so with only half the money allowed. he has also created 8 jobs from it. How come Searchlight has not looked into the other MPs expenses? I'm sure there are many with far more expenses claimed.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 17/03/2010 20:18
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Cant say that I support the British National Party but I as a liberterian can see that this article is a set up.From what I can see most of these expences are for the running of their party staff,office equipment Etc,quite frankly this hounding of a politicl party is erroneous and would have once been deemed distasteful but that would have been in a more enlightened age,nearly one million people voted for this party and they are entitled to the truth and not to a twisted report that gives no right of reply to the BNP.I do not espouse their beliefs,but what is it about them that has the other partys running scared.
- Dave, andover england, 17/03/2010 20:01
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Sorry Nick you are not claiming enough.
Ask UKIP's MEP Farage how it'd done he's had millions.
- David Alstone, London UK, 17/03/2010 19:51
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There is no legal requirement for MEPs to publish their expenditure, and many don't, hence Nick Griffin is actually being particularly open. £175,000 is payment to 8 employees so that leaves £25,000 WOW!
Furthermore, these are NOT expenses, this is an allowance given to all MEPs and based on what the Commission calculate an MEP requires in order to perform his or her role. This is a non-story
- Sarah Davies, London, 17/03/2010 19:39
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I haven't noticed anyone asking how much Mandelson pocketed when he was swanning around Europe - that was AFTER he was kicked out of British government for his dodgy mortgage application. He not only became a multi millionaire while in Europe, but came back here and was promptly given a knighthood. The only difference between Griffin and Mandelson is that Griffin was elected by the British public, whereas Mandelson is not. This is democracy - voted by the people for the people. Or does your version of democracy work only if people vote for the Labour party?
- Linda, South London, 17/03/2010 19:32
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The BNP are at least submitting legal and above board claims!Does this journalist expect the BNP to claim absolutely nothing?What mandate do Searchlight have to represent anyone? The answer is none!Did they jump to make any comment on the lefties criminal thieving of taxpayer's money? No of course they didn't!
Are there any other MEPs who have pledged money from their own salaries to help communities in their constituancies? No.Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons did.Did the Media report this ?No of course they didn't.Pathetic!
- S Moore, Larne Co Antrim UK, 17/03/2010 19:28
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So why are ex? Communists being used as sources for a non story?
- Tony Trebilcock, Manchester, 17/03/2010 19:25
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What if he using the cash to fund the BNP... its not so bas then is it... !
- Hugh E Torrance, London England, 17/03/2010 19:23
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Slight Problem Gerry I mean Mr Waugh they are NOT expenses, they are what are required for staff to support the work of the MEPs
- Tony Trebilcock, Manchester, 17/03/2010 19:23
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Who needs over £200 per day for "subsistence". They are all at it ,a break for a cup of tea ends up in an expensive restaurant as a four course lunch. What blatant cheek and they feel entitled to that luxury.
T H
- Thomas Hayes, Bradford UK, 17/03/2010 19:18
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all roads lead to rome.... mainly cause the romans built them,,,,,,,,cant stand the bloke or his politics,,,,,,but in this instance ,,,he,s no worse than all the other parasites,,,,does he mind some of that money coming from the ethnic minorities that he dislikes so much,,,,,,mmmm thought not,,but ,,different people ,same greed,,so pleased that they are looking after my best interests
- Les, crowborough england, 17/03/2010 19:05
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Mr Griffin stopped his BNP wage when he won his seat. This alone shows he is not out for what he can get.He thinks only of his country and his people. He risks his life every day for what he believes. He would never betray his ideals.
- Captainsouter, Wirral, 17/03/2010 18:58
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At least he's claiming for something decent and not a moat
- Asdofjsdf, Newcastle UK, 17/03/2010 18:38
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What do you expect, it really does not matter what party you support, to keep you in line you are allowed to collect all of these, to us mere mortal obscene amounts of money, but it does keep those involved in check and to vote the way they are expected to, everyone of them are self interested, after all it is only us minions that pay for it, and who are we to complain.
- Terry, london, 17/03/2010 18:23
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This revalation would have more impact if we knew what all of the other UK MEPs drew.
- Bj, East London, 17/03/2010 17:42
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I'm reading some of the comments on here and not believing my eyes. Have people lost their minds. This country has unfortunatley lowered itself to being compulsive racists and xenophobes. We've almost lost site of what is right and wrong and keep blaming immigrants for our problems. As a black british man it makes it so difficult to feel proud to be british.What makes a great nation are the people wholistically and not politicians, we should decide how the nation is run and if we accept inequality and biase we are storing up future problems.
- Olly, London, 17/03/2010 17:36
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If they had claimed nothing searchlight would have said they were fiddling their expenses.
Europe is one big gravy train.Its accounts have not been ratified for years re corruption. We are in it or should I say our MP's are ..for the gravy.
- Clif, London, 17/03/2010 17:27
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The Labour government and its puppets are trying to stifle the BNP and freedom of speech by such means as a war of financial attrition of legal costs. Good luck to them for getting the money from the EU.
- Gwilym Rhys-Jones, marbella spain, 17/03/2010 17:08
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It was never going to be any different. The first thing that the Bnp did was NOT TO CHAMPION BRITAIN, but to start making alliances with other european political parties in the hope that the could make the union run in a more "right wing way" and not a "get us out of here" that he so famously banged on about, Wake up, smell the English breakfast, while he was at it the thought that every tax payer in europe would fund a nice little lifestyle. if you think that any of the political parties are any different to each other then think again
- Chris Cracknell, dewsbury, 17/03/2010 17:07
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If there's bias against him then good, long may it continue until he takes his fascist gaggle of Nazis and disappears under the rock he crawled out of.
I'm firmly against current immigration policy and think the whole thing is a shambles. But voting BNP isn't the way to make it right. Nick Griffin wants to protect "indigenous Britons", yet can't offer an explanation as to what "indigenous" actually constitutes!
He's a vile racist and so are his "employees".
- Dc, London, 17/03/2010 17:06
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@serox london.
The proof is in the hands of the authorities so stand back and look , dont be brainwashed by his followers who are milking the system as well , sorry you have not got close enough to the top boys to see the real conspiracies.
As usual the brainwashed fanclub defend him , but lets look at the EU website which publishes details of what he has actually done since being in position , Very Very little so i hope your proud to Vote him into greed and dictatorship.
So attack me , its just the same as the threats from Griffins hard men.
- Ex Griffin Fanclub, Manchester, 17/03/2010 17:04
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Makes a change for someone other than Lib Lab Con filling their pockets,I expect that cash will be reapearing in the BNP books before long,unlike the latest government swindles we have seen.
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey, 17/03/2010 16:59
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What really scares me is the usual suspects queuing up to support this odious little bigot.
Truly in the land of the blind bigot the one eyed bigot is king!
- Kerry, Purley, 17/03/2010 16:58
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@Ex Griffin Fanclub, Manchester: There are easier ways to make money!
Have you got proof of anything you have said? didn't think so.
- Serox, London, 17/03/2010 16:53
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Why does he need 8 employees? What work do these employees actually do? Does he do any work himself or is everything given to his employees to do?
- Andy, london, 17/03/2010 16:53
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What a lot of people don't realise about this man is none of the extra money is going on Campaigns , his supporters have to Raise that money himself . He claims for an office at his home , is this the same as the 40k He took out of the membership funds to build an extension on his lavish property for party meetings , strangely none of the members have ever had a meeting there.
He is in this to take as much money as he can for himself and stuff everyone else , Very little of the money is spent on the party and that is fact not fiction.
Current members need to stand back and take a long deep look at the likes of Griffin , Darby , Jefferson and collett who are milking the party for all it is worth .
Dont say you have NOT been warned by someone has seen it happening close up.
- Ex Griffin Fanclub, Manchester, 17/03/2010 16:33
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Yes,and your point is what exactly?
- Gary, London, 17/03/2010 16:04
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I dont see any expenses for a duck house or house flipping here.
- Martin, Sheffield, 17/03/2010 16:02
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So he's perfectly happy to spend obscene amounts of taxpayers money which is provided by a number of hard working ethnic and social minorities. Why doesn't he ask the people who actually support him to pay his 'crusade' expenses.
Oh, that's right, because most of them spend their days in front of Jeremy Kyle whilst winging about the fact that the jobs they can get are somehow below them.
- James, london, 17/03/2010 15:49
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I don't agree with his party politics but be fair the whole European MEP expense thing is a gravy train. Did you know we spend in the region of £4 billion (Europe's total cost) running the European parliament. Perhaps a more balanced story would be fairer and better for all.
- Tony, Hove England, 17/03/2010 15:47
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"A spokesman for campaign group Searchlight said: “Griffin talked a good game on expenses before the election, but as soon as he got to Brussels he couldn't wait to jump aboard the euro expenses gravy train.”
Good old stirrers searchlight might like to remember he is allowed to claim up to about €500,000 so he is well under budget.
And I'd rather have the BNP over searchlight any day of the week.
- Daisy Willets, London SW1P, 17/03/2010 15:40
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Anybody else getting a bit tired of the oh so predictable BNP-baiting in the media?
The BNP's first ever member from an ethnic minority joined the party yesterday, which should be a big news story, yet this has not been mentioned anywhere.
- Mark, London, 17/03/2010 15:33
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Makes one proud to be British.........
- Azmat, Dengie, 17/03/2010 15:32
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He certainly hasn't spent any of the money on beauty treatment has he.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford, 17/03/2010 15:26
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Sounds fine to me!
When NG starts fitting his house out and putting it on the expense I will have a whine.
- Serox, London, 17/03/2010 14:53
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I'm not a B.N.P. apologist, but it would appear to me that he has only claimed half the amount he is actually entitled to by E.U. rules!
What about all the other faceless, invisible and ineffective Euro M.P.s walking away with double this amount, - and no fuss made?
Yes, -the whole Euro farce is a disgrace, -but it looks like we can't get out now, -so maybe Griffin can influence it from the inside, and at least attempt to expose some of the nepotism, cronyism, profligacy, greed and corruption?
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 17/03/2010 14:49
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so what its mainly for staff not for sanitary towels and bars of chocolates that the mps have been claiming for
- Barry Mcsherry, purley .england, 17/03/2010 14:08
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I personally would claim everything going if I was a Euro MP.
Then after getting the total extras and expenses for just one year; I would show the whole world what I legally filched out of the EC racket etc.
The only way to get to the truth; is for someone to get the actual proof, and expose it all.
Nobody in the EC will do this, or has ever done it; and that is why all Europeans are robbed with impunity etc.
Look at the hoards of Euro MP’s, then multiply the final costs of just supporting people that few have even heard of, let alone know etc.
What ever the BNP get, is miniscule by comparison with all the other political parties etc.
To play the EC game, you have to join the game first.
Personally: I think we need the EC like we need a big hole in our heads.
- Mickinlondon, london, 17/03/2010 14:01
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Odious as he may be, he is only doing what his elders and "betters" in the other parties have been doing for years.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 17/03/2010 13:56
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Good.He's worth every penny and does far more than the average MEP.
- Pete, London, 17/03/2010 13:54
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This is just another reason why we need to get out of Europe.But politicians refuse to discuss this issue,and even got Sky News to promise no questions on the EU during the leadership debate.Sky got so many complaints they stoped readers comments on their site.
- Dave, london, 17/03/2010 13:53
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So of the £ 213K claimed £ 206K directly relate to running an office and there's a possible dual purpose for the remaining £7k.
Of course nobody has pointed out that with the money he received from Europe he has created eight jobs, with moneys flowing into HM Govs. coffers.
Nigel Farage was quite open as to the amount of expenses he got from Europe. The vast proprtion of his went on staff and office costs and much of it you didn't need to claim as it was automatically paid into your bank account.
What a desparate non-story from Searchlight who appear not have taken any interest in the expenses claims of the MPs of any of the mainstream political.
- Mark, South East London, 17/03/2010 13:44
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Every other party is doing this, so why make a fuss about this? Why not highlight every politician who is doing this? Your coverage seems a bit biased to me.
- Ken Joralemon, London, UK, 17/03/2010 13:44
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Do not know why you choose to highlight the BNP in particular over this issue? The Euro political class of all persuasions, have been lining their pockets to the tune of hundreds of thousands for years.
Brussels is devoid of democracy and corrupt to the core. We need to leave and govern ourselves.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 17/03/2010 13:42
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Well he is entitles to it, just like the newly arrived at our shores are entitled to various benefits.
- P Staker, London, 17/03/2010 13:40
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They need to finance the party campaigns somehow apart from ever growing membership. I'd wager that this is what it is going towards and not his own personal account unlike most who have ridden this 1st class gravy train for years......Europe has almost killed off our once great nation, get out now while we still can !!!!
- Andy Woodhead, London, ENGLAND, 17/03/2010 13:38
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A non-story.
Most of his claims were for setting up an office and staff costs?
Does the evening standard expect MEPs to do all their work in their kitchen or lounge with absolutely no help from any employees?
- Stevej, Bromley, 17/03/2010 13:14
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hate the guy and what he stands for , but hell, kinnock and co have been doing it for years, wheres their stand alone page in the paper, all live in a europe induced vacuum with little purpose in the real world, if u paid some of them 250k a yr to sit in a cupboard , they would.
At least Nigel Farage actually says something that people relate to and understand.
- Shaunie, kent, 17/03/2010 13:12
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There must be an election coming up
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 17/03/2010 13:07
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He is bringing attention to the obscene gravy train that being a Brussels MEP is, so is doing us a favour. If more people realized what goes on with the spendthrift policy of the EU, they might do more to get the UK out of its membership, of which it has been the biggest disaster for the UK, bar none.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK, 17/03/2010 12:52
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Good - why not? The BNP doesn't many Lords or Trade Unions queuing up to give him money
- Richard, London, 17/03/2010 12:41
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