Kinnock joins Britain in Europe
by Marit Ruuda

The outgoing Commission Vice-President Neil Kinnock has joined the board of Britain in Europe ahead of the referendum campaign on the Constitution. Earlier this week Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, was also reported to have joined the pressure group.

The appointment of two such strong political figures is a sign that Britain in Europe will become more independent from No 10. and will be able to operate as an independent campaigning body, reports the Guardian.

Mr Kinnock said yesterday that he was very pleased to join the Britain in Europe board. "I want to combat the Euroneurotic wreckers, beat the bigots and their myths, argue for improvements in the union and sustain the case for full, influential engagement."

Britain in Europe is the pro-European campaign in the UK, launched by Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Ken Clarke, Michael Heseltine and Charles Kennedy in 1999.

The referendum is expected to be held in spring 2006.
EU Observer.com, 24th September 2004

Kinnock's Euro Pay-off is Condemned
by Toby Helm

The Conservatives accused Brussels of "appalling extravagance" last night after it emerged that Neil Kinnock, the outgoing European commissioner, would receive a pay-off of about £277,000 over the next three years followed by an annual pension of £63,900 a year for life.

Mr Kinnock, who has been a commissioner since 1995, and for the past five years has been in charge of tackling internal mismanagement of the EC, will receive the money under notoriously generous rules for former members of the Brussels executive. It will be in addition to any pension he receives from his 25 years as an MP at Westminster.

Graham Brady, the Tory EU spokesman, condemned the Brussels "gravy train".

"Hard-pressed British taxpayers will be appalled at this extravagant pay-off for Neil Kinnock, who has failed comprehensively to tackle fraud, waste and corruption in the EU," he said. "If he was being paid by results he would be refunding his salary not drawing this huge additional payment."

Under EC rules, retiring commissioners receive "transitional allowances" for three years to help them to adjust to life away from Brussels.

For those such as Mr Kinnock who have served the maximum of two commission terms (10 years) the transitional allowance amounts to 65 per cent of their final salary - currently £142,000 - for each of the three years. That amounts to about £277,000.

After that he will be paid an EU pension of 45 per cent of his final salary - £63,900 a year.

Chris Patten, the other retiring British commissioner, who has served one five-year term, will receive a smaller transitional allowance of about £210,000 over the next three years followed by an EC pension of about £32,000 a year for life.

If commissioners take a job after leaving Brussels they have to forfeit part or all of their transitional allowances only if the total salary from the new job plus the transitional allowance exceeds their old salary from the commission.

The Taxpayers Association of Europe condemned the Brussels rules as completely "unsuitable".

Brussels officials say the large transitional payments serve the purpose of deterring commissioners from trying to find other jobs in which they could use their inside knowledge of EC affairs.

Peter Mandelson, the former Cabinet minister and MP for Hartlepool, will take over as Britain's sole European commissioner on Nov 1.
The Daily Telegraph, 23rd September 2004

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Good to know that after the sticky-fingered Kinnock retires with a wadful, the thrice-disgraced, fiddling Peter Mandelson will take over as EU commissioner in Brussels and Strasbourg, the perfect home for such a man. Folks, I've often said, Britain will get the future she deserves, one way or another. Only a concerted effort by the British people to send a clear, unequivocal message that we want out of the EU will work. Remember, the safe, sane and ONLY option for Britain's future is to do what we thought we were doing back in 1975, vote for a free-trade agreement with Europe, not be ruled by their brand of 'democracy'. No-one in Britain, I'm afraid, will be able to bleat that they never saw the EU coming.

Further Resources
Spread the word to friends with The Real Face of the European Union by Phillip Day, a video documentary (PAL format only) which lays out the serious problems with the European Union and what you can do about it. Also, don't miss the two following incisive commentaries on the dangers of Britain's involvement with the EU:

Ten Minutes to Midnight by Phillip Day
Vigilance by Ashley Mote
Click here to purchase or review any of the above.
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