Mikeuk

Conservative MEPs have reacted furiously after David Cameron ordered a "deep clean" of their expenses and ordered them to accept public scrutiny or leave the European Parliament.

An anonymous letter from a group of MEPs, said to represent a "minority" of those serving in Brussels, and threatening to sue the Conservative leader if he carried out his threat to de-select them, was made public.
In it, the MEPs said there would be "no incentive" for them to go on trips to the Parliament's alternative base in Strasbourg if they could not cash in on lucrative expenses, and complained about the prospect of eating in cheaper restaurants and cutting out "that extra half-pint of lager" from their expenses claims.

Mr Cameron had earlier announced that he was carrying out a "deep clean" of the "seriously flawed" system of expenses in Brussels.

He ordered all candidates and sitting MEP seeking re-election to make public their expense claims once every six months from the start of the year, or face expulsion from the party.

In future, MEPs will be barred from using family members and private companies to boost their allowances.

Mr Cameron said: "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 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."

Giles Chichester, the party's former leader in Brussels, and Den Dover, the chief whip are currently facing sleaze probes by the European Parliament.

Mr Cameron was speaking hours after MEPs were told of the new regime in a stormy meeting in Brussels.

Afterwards, an unknown number are thought to have penned the letter to the leadership protesting at the new requirements and threatening legal action.

It reads: "We will … find that far from buying off criticism, the more we publish, the more questions will be asked.

"Could we have eaten in a cheaper restaurant? Did we need that extra half-pint of lager? Couldn't we find cheaper paper-clips?

"The press storm over MEPs' expenses is blowing itself out. We should not be resurrecting it.

"Members may well change their behaviour under the rules. They may decide to drive to Brussels, claiming the full mileage allowance, rather than fly or take the train.

"They may decide not to go to Strasbourg at all - it as an enormous hassle and there will be little incentive to go.

"They may decide to buy an apartment in Brussels rather than rent or use hotels. In any case they will certainly trade up to business-class flights, obviating any saving for the tax-payer.

"It is said that the Party proposes to de-select any member who declines to comply with the new policy.

"If in fact the Party decides to de-select an incumbent parliamentarian for no other reason than that he obeys the rules of the parliament, it may well lay itself open to very substantial claims for damages."

A spokesman for Mr Cameron confirmed that the letter was genuine and said he was "unsurprised" to receive it.

She added: "He was pleased, in fact, because we are getting things out in the open and he is not afraid to have a row over this.

"Yes, there are some MEPs who are unhappy about this, but they are a minority.

"If they do not want to abide by these rules, then they can not stand as a candidate for the Conservative Party, it is as simple as that."

The next European elections are next year, and Mr Cameron has asked all MEPs to make their claims public from January.

Mikeuk

Bad news for Roger Helmer, eh?