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Scots MEPs praised for fighting EU secrecy

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Published Date: 26 May 2009
By David Maddox
TWO Scottish MEPs were hailed as being among the best advocates for transparency in the European Parliament in a survey published yesterday.
Conservative Struan Stevenson and Nationalist Alyn Smith were praised by the website Open Democracy for being in the top three British MEPs for promoting openness and democracy and fighting waste.

Only nine of the 785 outgoing MEPs scored more hig
hly on their records in 19 crucial votes in the European Parliament's five-year term.

Mr Stevenson has challenged other MEPs to follow his example and publish expenses, although his online register has information taken out.

The survey came out on the day that the SNP launched its European manifesto, which included a watered-down version of its previous calls to pull out of the much criticised Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The new SNP position now calls for Scotland to have a separate voice on CFP ministerial discussions to the rest of the UK.

However, at the manifesto launch, Nicola Sturgeon called on voters to use the election as a call for a general election for Westminster.

"By voting SNP, next week's election is an opportunity for people to give Scotland a strong voice in Europe and demand an early general election," she said.

The Scottish Socialist Party also launched its campaign yesterday with a call for an extra 10 per cent tax across Europe on the rich.





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  • Last Updated: 25 May 2009 9:35 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: European Union
 
1

buzzer,

Aberdeen 26/05/2009 02:02:07
I notice no sign of Labour promoting openness.
2

Jimbo2,

26/05/2009 02:23:22
Met Labour MEP Catherine Stihler today. She was out canvassing for people to vote her back onto the gravy train.
3

Canny Mann,

The Kingdom 26/05/2009 04:22:24
Now the cat is out of the bag in Britain and reported in international media. The MEPs know the wind of change sweeping through westminster is likely to kindle flames in Europe. The electorate in europe know there are fat cats creaming off euros and pounds, like a tap into a hat.
With the Brits up in arms, I can only imagine the French, who love a good reason to have a go at thier Parliament, will follow suit. Berlusconi in Italy has corruption charges stacked against him, possibly setting light to Italian discontent.
Reports already in the media of the gravy train in Brussels/Strasbourg, where some MEPs have already been reported on, where some of the goings on resemble the piggies snouts in the trough mentality already displayed in the british media.

MPs should be given a new type of attire for work. A red and black striped jumper, a black eye-mask and a sack over thier shoulders with the word SWAG written on it in BIG letters.

MPs who cheated the system, are swindlers, not worthy of thier office and certainly are not the role models they hold themselves up in public to be.
There needs to be a root and branch clean out of all the rotten wood before it kills the tree.
The major parties have shown themselves to be moraly bankrupt, the fringe parties are likely to be the benefactors in the blood letting in the Euro elections. It may only be the start next month, the general election next year is gonna be a hum dinger. The major parties have a lot of explaining and turning the voters minds away from thier greed.
Vote SNP and give scotland the change it needs.

Alba gu brath...
4

redcliffe62,

26/05/2009 07:40:48
not sure the snp are any better, although the long term mp's with 25 years experience, i cannot say public service, like the wintertons, do take a lot of beating when it comes to diddling from the trough.
stop all payout pensions on any retiring mp's until they are fully investiagted for the last 10 years. that way we will not have to pay MANY of them based on the last few weeks' revelations. any profit from a dodgy property deal is hereby counted as part of their pension.
5

Tuti,

EDINBURGH 26/05/2009 07:45:33
Catherine Stihler was the only UK MEP to be a founding member of the Campaign for Parliamentary Reform in Europe. I see that 'jonny come latelys' like Alyn Smyth and SS have since joined up now that epexnses are a hot tattie for the last couple of years in Brussels.
6

KampungHighlander,

Jakarta 26/05/2009 08:08:04
"The Scottish Socialist Party also launched its campaign yesterday with a call for an extra 10 per cent tax across Europe on the rich."

Reminds me of the old saying: "If you are not socialist when you are young it means you have no heart, however if you are still socialist when you are old it means you have no brain."

Good Luck to the children at the SSP.
7

Salthorse,

Room wi a view 26/05/2009 08:32:14
Scotland needs to pull out of the CFP, Scotland needs to have complete control over her TTW and EEZ. There has been a decline of 1/3 of men in fishing over the last 10 years, wtf is Westmidden doing about it?

Trading our quotas for favours, an equal Union? I think not, lets use Scotland's natural resources for our own political gain.

Ladies and Genetlemen we are being taken for a ride, or colloquially - we're being treated like diddies, time for us to take care of our own affairs,

Vote for Independence!

Saor Alba

SH
8

Pica Sapien,

26/05/2009 09:15:29
8 Tam o' Shanter

Not totally documented, but better than the labour lot

http://www.alynsmith.eu/mep-allowances.html
9

Benarty,

26/05/2009 09:36:18
Both Catherine Stihler MEP and Davo Martin MEP have been having their expense claims independently audited since 2000 - I know, because I demanded to see them, and in both cases was given the info without trouble. Also, they pay for the audit temselves.
10

Number 6,

Germany 26/05/2009 09:46:11
Again the tories and labour are no where to be seen .

Keep watching Scotland, and keep thinking.
11

The west awake,

Argyll 26/05/2009 13:19:27
8 Tam O'Shanter
What a pity Labour has plumbed the depths of distrust and dislike among everyone in Scotland.
We will see who deserves pity the most after the elections next month.
I predict as far as the EU is concerned Scotland will become a Labour-free zone.

Save your pity Tam, you're boys will be needing it very soon.
12

GOODBYE LONDON LABOUR,

Aberdeen 26/05/2009 21:33:49
Struan Stevenson has been a top man in my book for his work on ending the fur trade. Just a pity that he represents an ardently anti-Scottish party.
London Labour will get a severe kicking in the Euro poll and its Quisling Scots will be out on their ear.
Only one party represents Scotland 100%.
VOTE SNP! VOTE FOR SCOTLAND'S PARTY!
13

,

27/05/2009 06:45:21
Comment Removed By Administrator
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14

,

27/05/2009 06:48:49
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