This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27030660
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Nigel Farage 'facing expenses complaint' over UKIP office costs | Nigel Farage 'facing expenses complaint' over UKIP office costs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage is facing a complaint about his use of EU expenses, it has been reported. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage is facing a complaint about his use of EU expenses, it has been reported. |
| The Times said a former party official had raised questions about how Mr Farage used his "general expenditure allowance" and as a result had taken the matter to the EU's anti-fraud body. | The Times said a former party official had raised questions about how Mr Farage used his "general expenditure allowance" and as a result had taken the matter to the EU's anti-fraud body. |
| The allowance is intended to cover the running of his constituency office. | The allowance is intended to cover the running of his constituency office. |
| Mr Farage said the "outrageous, ridiculous and absurd" allegation was part of "a campaign... to nobble me". | |
| Office expenditure | Office expenditure |
| The Times said Mr Farage received £15,500 a year to run his constituency office in Bognor Regis - but that the office had been provided rent-free by UKIP supporters. | The Times said Mr Farage received £15,500 a year to run his constituency office in Bognor Regis - but that the office had been provided rent-free by UKIP supporters. |
| A former office manager claimed that the premises cost only about £3,000 a year to run. | A former office manager claimed that the premises cost only about £3,000 a year to run. |
| The EU does not demand a detailed breakdown of office expenditure but Mr Farage insisted the running costs were about £1,000 a month. | The EU does not demand a detailed breakdown of office expenditure but Mr Farage insisted the running costs were about £1,000 a month. |
| Mr Farage told the BBC the money was an allowance, not an expense, adding: "I can spend the money on whatever I choose to in support of my work as an MEP." | |
| He said the story was part of "a politically motivated campaign by the establishment" - through "the establishment voice piece", the Times - to try to derail UKIP ahead of next month's European elections. | |
| He would not rule out legal action against the newspaper, adding: "I will never speak to the Times again." | |
| Unprecedented scrutiny | |
| UKIP said the allegations "lack substance". | UKIP said the allegations "lack substance". |
| The party claimed that the office allowance was used in part to pay for additional premises, and accused the newspaper - which it called the mouthpiece of the political establishment - of embarking on a "fishing expedition". | The party claimed that the office allowance was used in part to pay for additional premises, and accused the newspaper - which it called the mouthpiece of the political establishment - of embarking on a "fishing expedition". |
| UKIP said in a statement: "Nigel Farage is confident that he has abided by European parliamentary rules at all times when spending allowances. | UKIP said in a statement: "Nigel Farage is confident that he has abided by European parliamentary rules at all times when spending allowances. |
| "The Times has raised a number of 'fishing type' allegations, all of which lack substance as to their formulation and provide no substantive questions needing to be answered. | |
| "In fact many of your questions are probably just as applicable to any of the other political parties contesting the forthcoming European elections with figures and statements duly amended to suit." | "In fact many of your questions are probably just as applicable to any of the other political parties contesting the forthcoming European elections with figures and statements duly amended to suit." |
| BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said that Mr Farage was coming under unprecedented scrutiny in the run-up to the European election, in which the UKIP leader has expressed hopes that his party will top the poll. |