Glenys Faces a Storm Over £175-a-day EU Payout
by Graeme Wilson

Glenys Kinnock was caught up in a bitter row over EU expenses last night.

The wife of the former Labour leader, Neil, is one of thirty British MEPs facing accusations of exploiting the European Parliament's system of attendance allowances.

A fellow MEP claims she frequently drops in to sign the attendance register and thus qualify for the £175 daily payment, but then leaves within an hour. The controversy comes amid growing anger about the tax-payer funded 'gravy train' enjoyed by MEPs who can claim huge expenses without producing any receipts.

It will be embarrassing for Mr Kinnock, the EU Commission vice-president, who has been put in charge of a crack down on fraud within its £60 billion-a-year budget. And it will raise fresh questions about the fat-cat lifestyle the Kinnocks enjoy in Brussels.

Mr Kinnock is paid more than £160,000 a year in his job. He receives a £24,000-a-year house-keeping budget for his three storey home in Brussels, a £7,000-a-year entertainment budget and has use of a chauffeur driven limousine.

His 59-year-old wife is paid more than £70,000 a year as an MEP and can claim more than £100,000 a year in expenses.

The tax payer also pays for the couple's son Stephen, who works for the British Council in Brussels. His wife, Helle, is a Danish MEP. The allegations on expenses were made by Austrian, MEP Hans-Peter Martin, who claims Mrs Kinnock is one of the most prolific offenders.

He says she has left the parliament within an hour of signing the register on at least 26 occasions. But his efforts to high-light the issue have provoked a bitter backlash.

Another Labour MEP he accuses, North-East member, Gordon Adam, clashed with him last Friday as the Austrian tried to film him signing the register. Mr Martin was left lying on the floor after Mr Adam branded him a 'disgrace' and tried to snatch his video camera.

Mr Martin handed a dossier on his allegations to Pat Cox, president of the European Parliament, but was given short shrift.

"On the basis of what was sent to me there is zero evidence to support the claims of wrongdoing or a breach of the rules," said Mr Cox.

He accused Mr Martin of 'a grotesque attempt to maximize personal publicity'.

Other Labour members named by Mr Martin include Scottish MEP Catherine Stihler, Neena Gill (West Midlands) and Eryl McNally, (East of England).

MEPs are allowed to claim £175-a-day expenses for attending the EU parliament. which sits in Brussels three weeks a month and in Strasbourg for the remaining week. Mr Martin claims he has logged more than 7,000 occasions when MEPs have signed in for their allowance and then left to travel back to their constituency.

The practice does not breach the rules, but Mr Martin wants it outlawed.

He is particularly critical of the system as it applies to the Strasbourg week, during which there are no meetings on Fridays, but MEPs are still allowed to claim their £175. "The Brussels expense system is being abused, especially when delegates come in early, quickly sign in and then leave the city," he said.

A spokesman for Mrs Kinnock, who became an MEP in 1999, said: "Glenys doesn't want to say anything on this. She backs what Pat Cox said last week and does not want to give Mr Martin any more credibility or publicity."
Daily Mail, 26th April 2004

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