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Nigel Farage rejects 'outrageous' EU expenses allegations Nigel Farage rejects 'outrageous' EU expenses allegations
(about 3 hours later)
Nigel Farage has rejected "outrageous" claims that his taxpayer-funded EU office expenses of around £15,000 a year are too high.Nigel Farage has rejected "outrageous" claims that his taxpayer-funded EU office expenses of around £15,000 a year are too high.
The Ukip leader is facing questions about his use of the EU parliamentary expenses system after it emerged that he pays no rent on a small Bognor Regis property designated as his UK office.The Ukip leader is facing questions about his use of the EU parliamentary expenses system after it emerged that he pays no rent on a small Bognor Regis property designated as his UK office.
Between 2009 and 2013, Farage claimed between £13,000 and £20,000 a year in office management and running costs for the site, averaging around £15,000 a year.Between 2009 and 2013, Farage claimed between £13,000 and £20,000 a year in office management and running costs for the site, averaging around £15,000 a year.
However, a former office manager told the Times that upkeep of the converted grain store in terms of bills and other non-rental costs only amounted to around £3,000 a year, leaving around £12,000 a year unaccounted for.However, a former office manager told the Times that upkeep of the converted grain store in terms of bills and other non-rental costs only amounted to around £3,000 a year, leaving around £12,000 a year unaccounted for.
Farage hit back in an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, arguing he legitimately made use of flat-rate "allowances" from EU funds, which do not amount to expenses. He also said he would be prepared to have his expenses checked by an auditor "if that would settle the matter".Farage hit back in an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, arguing he legitimately made use of flat-rate "allowances" from EU funds, which do not amount to expenses. He also said he would be prepared to have his expenses checked by an auditor "if that would settle the matter".
MEPs can spend these allowances "how we see fit", he said.MEPs can spend these allowances "how we see fit", he said.
"I'm sorry, but this whole story and even the line of questioning here is simply wrong," he said. "Let's get this right from the start shall we? We do not claim expenses for running offices or any other activity that takes place within our member state the United Kingdom; we get an allowance, a fixed-rate allowance, and we can spend it how we see fit.""I'm sorry, but this whole story and even the line of questioning here is simply wrong," he said. "Let's get this right from the start shall we? We do not claim expenses for running offices or any other activity that takes place within our member state the United Kingdom; we get an allowance, a fixed-rate allowance, and we can spend it how we see fit."
"It is £3,580 a month, and that is given to every MEP; we can spend it how we want to, we don't have to provide receipts for it or anything like that. We are given recommendations as to what it can legitimately be spent on, which include the running of an office, paying for a mobile phone, buying equipment, hotel bills, restaurant bills, applying for subscriptions to websites, buying newspapers, there's a list as long as your arm on what this money can legitimately be spent on.""It is £3,580 a month, and that is given to every MEP; we can spend it how we want to, we don't have to provide receipts for it or anything like that. We are given recommendations as to what it can legitimately be spent on, which include the running of an office, paying for a mobile phone, buying equipment, hotel bills, restaurant bills, applying for subscriptions to websites, buying newspapers, there's a list as long as your arm on what this money can legitimately be spent on."
Farage said he had always been open about using the EU cash to fight against Britain's membership while staying within the rules.Farage said he had always been open about using the EU cash to fight against Britain's membership while staying within the rules.
He said he was taking legal advice about the Times story, accusing it of launching a politically motivated attack because it was an "establishment" newspaper.He said he was taking legal advice about the Times story, accusing it of launching a politically motivated attack because it was an "establishment" newspaper.
"We have seen article after article like this and the Times are wilfully misleading people into thinking that I have claimed office expenses from Brussels – I haven't," he said."We have seen article after article like this and the Times are wilfully misleading people into thinking that I have claimed office expenses from Brussels – I haven't," he said.
On Monday night, Ukip said Farage was "confident that he has abided by European parliamentary rules at all times when spending allowances".On Monday night, Ukip said Farage was "confident that he has abided by European parliamentary rules at all times when spending allowances".
Earlier, the Times reported that he had said: "I don't pay rent on the office but I obviously pay for everything else, whether it's the burglar alarm or electricity."Earlier, the Times reported that he had said: "I don't pay rent on the office but I obviously pay for everything else, whether it's the burglar alarm or electricity."
He also disputed claims by the former grain store manager, saying: "About £1,000 a month is roughly what it is. Exceptionally, I put more money in as and when it's needed."He also disputed claims by the former grain store manager, saying: "About £1,000 a month is roughly what it is. Exceptionally, I put more money in as and when it's needed."
The newspaper reported that Farage had been referred to the European expenses watchdog by a former Ukip official over how he had spent around £60,000 of office expenses since transparency declarations about expenses began in 2009.The newspaper reported that Farage had been referred to the European expenses watchdog by a former Ukip official over how he had spent around £60,000 of office expenses since transparency declarations about expenses began in 2009.
MEPs are not required to provide receipts proving how they spend their expenses, with the EU saying it is a "matter of honour" that they are spent correctly.MEPs are not required to provide receipts proving how they spend their expenses, with the EU saying it is a "matter of honour" that they are spent correctly.
David Samuel-Camps, Farage's former office manager who spoke to the Times, later claimed he had been misquoted. He said Farage's office costs were originally "some £2,000" a month and were later reduced to around £700 a month - or £8,400 a year. He also disputed the idea that utilities, insurance and business rates came to as little as £250.
"At no time did I say that 'electricity, heating, and business rates at the office totalled less than £250 a month'. I told you that I could not remember the individual amounts as it was over four years ago but they would have been in the region of £200 each," Samuel-Camps wrote to the newspaper.
The Times has now replied saying that its story only makes claims about what Farage claimed in "office management and running costs", which refers to rent, utilities, insurance business rates and cleaning - amounting to around £15,500 a year or about £1,300 a month.
The newspaper wrote back to Samuel-Camps saying: "You said that utilities and insurance amounted to less than £100 a month and that council tax/business rates were £150 (I looked it up and it was £149 a month for the current financial year 2013). Hence the figure of £250 a month, which is £3,000 a year."
The allegations emerged with Ukip riding high in the polls while the Conservatives appeared to have taken a hit over former culture secretary Maria Miller's wrongly-claimed expenses.The allegations emerged with Ukip riding high in the polls while the Conservatives appeared to have taken a hit over former culture secretary Maria Miller's wrongly-claimed expenses.
The Ukip leader said Miller had "taken the mickey out of the system" and called for David Cameron to introduce powers for the public to sack MPs over serious wrongdoing.The Ukip leader said Miller had "taken the mickey out of the system" and called for David Cameron to introduce powers for the public to sack MPs over serious wrongdoing.
Challenged about Ukip's own expenses scandals among MEPs, he said: "In the cases of the two individuals who behaved badly, I removed the whip and kicked them out of the party a long time before they were found guilty of anything."Challenged about Ukip's own expenses scandals among MEPs, he said: "In the cases of the two individuals who behaved badly, I removed the whip and kicked them out of the party a long time before they were found guilty of anything."