Bucks MEPs "value for money" (From Bucks Free Press)
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Bucks MEPs "value for money"
10:58am Wednesday 3rd June 2009 in News By Oliver Evans
The European Parliament building Strasbourg
MOST Euro MPs who represent Buckinghamshire have come in the top 25 per cent of “value for money” members.
Seven out of ten Members of the European Parliament for the South East got in the top 25 per cent in the TaxPayers’ Alliance study.
Voters will go to the polls tomorrow to elect their MEPs along with all seats on Buckinghamshire County Council.
Conservative Daniel Hannan – who won internet fame with a stinging attack on Gordon Brown (see link, below) – came third out of 78.
Green Caroline Lucas was sixth with UKIP’s Nigel Farage, independent Ashley Mote and Tory Richard Ashworth 15th, 19th and 20th respectively.
Labour’s Peter Skinner came joint 75th. He was this morning unavailable for comment.
To see the full list and report click The right-leaning group’s study rated MEPs on how many questions they asked, the popularity of their internet sites, financial transparency and whether they are in the MEP pension scheme.
It gave most points according to how members voted on “key” issues which showed if MEPs were “independently-minded”.
This included votes on “gravy train reform”, schools and banking.
Mr Hannan told Bucks Free Press: “I am very pleased.
“It is at a time when lots of people are aggrieved about the amount of money they are offing up to repay for a political class that hasn’t always served them.”
Ulster MEP Jim Allister came top. Mr Hannan said: “He is an incredibly hard working guy.”
Conservative James Elles, who came joint 56th, said: "I don't think it has any particular relevance to the conduct of MEPs.
He pointed to his attendance and involvement in budgetary matters.
"I don't need recommendations from anyone about how to conduct myself as a parliamentarian," he said.
He urged people to look at seperate rankings by pressure group Open Europe (see link, below). This ranked him joint 44th.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (3)
5:39pm Wed 3 Jun 09
peregrine says...
MEPs are worse still with their expenses
Boycott LAB/LIB/CON/UKIP/GRE
ENS
6:31pm Wed 3 Jun 09
Save Wycombe says...
"With elections to the European Parliament less than two weeks away, Open Europe has published a ranking of all 785 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), scoring their record on promoting transparency and reform in the European Union over the last five-year term."
So whether or not you agree with the ranking depends on whether you agree with Open Europe's ranking criteria.
It certainly isn't, as the article says, just about value for money!
BFP really should clarify this article as it is misleading!
9:29pm Wed 3 Jun 09
Voyeur says...
There are a number of MEPs who all collectively represent the South East of England.
I do wish the BFP would not follow party specific propoganda.