NORTH WEST Euro MP Chris Davies visited Northwich on Friday to collect signatures calling for all MEPs to be open and honest about the money they claim.
Liberal Democrat Mr Davies, who blew the whistle on the abuse of expenses by other Brussels MPs, said he is furious the behaviour of some has tarnished the reputation of all.
The North West England MEP said: “I’m proud of the work I do in Brussels. I’m in politics to make a difference for the better, and I get well paid for my efforts.
“It sickens me that some MEPs think this is not enough and want to milk the system.”
Mr Davies last month claimed fellow North West MEP Den Dover should be thrown out of the Conservative Party and jailed after it was revealed he had paid a staff budget of £758,000 to a company owned by his wife and daughter, which bought BMW cars and carried out repairs to his home.
Mr Dover has been ordered by the European Parliament to pay back £500,000.
Mr Davies told the Chronicle the sums of money claimed by some Euro MPs ‘dwarf’ those of their Westminster counterparts.
He said: “I am strongly pro-European, so I am sorry to say that the expenses system in the European Parliament is too self-serving. But from what we have now learned of practices in the House of Commons this may come as no surprise.
“Major reforms are being carried out in Brussels, but they still don’t go far enough.
“Party leaders must take steps to ensure that voters in Britain are offered candidates pledged to be open and honest about the expenses they receive – it’s the vital first step towards securing radical reform.”
