MY MEP EXPENSES - THE AUTHORISED WAY OF DEALING.

Q.Do I employ my wife?

A. NO. However, she works with me in both Brussels and Strasbourg and is paid nothing. She believes in the UKIP objective.

Q. Do I employ family?

A. NO.

Q. Do I use my house as my office, as do some other MEPs?

A.NO. I have a total of 3160 sq ft of offices and storage space in Birmingham, which is exclusively used as my main MEP office base and this is where my staff are based.

Q. Do I have a second home in Brussels or Strasbourg?

A.NO. Nor do I claim anything towards homes, moats, moth traps or duck houses as under EU rules there are, as yet, no suitable forms provided.

Q. Do I claim travel allowance for trips outside of the visits to parliament (i.e. official jollies)?

A. NO. Not a single one.

I have my own question. Has any UK MEP handed back money having audited their figures within the "allowances" and found they under spent? 

More information

Travel expenses. These are calculated on the distance from home to the parliament for private vehicles or refunded based on the actual cost of the fare. With regard to public transport, I have always travelled economy by air or rail and looked for the most cost effective deal.

Daily Allowance. Each MEP gets an allowance when attending the parliament (signing in). They can stay 5 Star (and overspend the allowance) or sleep on a park bench (making a profit) and still get the same. Simple system to avoid paper, bureaucracy and expensive accountants. I always stay in hotels. My visits are for voting days and committee days only as I am not a resident "sponging on daily allowances." The daily allowance is €298 per day   and the question as to whether this is too high or low is a matter for the EU to decide. An example would be that a 3 star hotel actually in Strasbourg during the parliament week will be between £100 and £200 per night (please check on line) and an evening meal at €50 would be run of the mill on parliament days. Strasbourg is more expensive than Birmingham.

Office Allowance. Each MEP receives an office allowance of €4202 per month. My Birmingham office base costs £2000 per month including rent, gas, electricity and rates. The balance is spent on telephones and general office equipment and outgoings. Those with permanent accommodation in Brussels have an incentive to be there to collect daily allowances, as well as the office allowance back home, others may provide an office at their home and still get this standard allowance!

Allowances for visits other than to Brussels or Strasbourg.
This can be very expensive for overseas visits.
My expenses under this budget are ZERO. It is UKIP policy not to go on "Jollies" at public expense.
Prior to being an MEP I visited 25 out of the 27 states at my cost. During my time as an MEP I have been to Poland and Portugal many times and also to Berlin and Ukraine but all at my own cost.

Pension.

I opted out of the standard MEP pension in 2006 and have been trying to reclaim the deductions they took.

Budget for Employees and Service Providers.
My wife and family are not paid by me. My wife has worked for me since July 2004 on parliament days free of charge.
My employees and service providers are listed under "Staff" on this web site. This is an area where contracts are signed within the MEP's budget and payments are made via the paying agent. My paying agent are the accountants RSM Tenon.