1ST CLASS? EUR HAVING A LAUGH; Now it's time for MEPs to come clean on expenses.Byline: Elaine C. Smith Elaine C. Smith (born August 2, 1958) is a Scottish actress and comedian. She was born in Baillieston in Glasgow, and she continues to live in the city. Elaine attended Braidhurst High School in Motherwell. CAN I just get this straight because I can't quite believe it? Our fine Members of the European Parliament can claim for a first-class air ticket to Brussels and back - cash, of course, no questions asked - even if they arrived on Shanks's pony. They can share a lift, take an easyJet flight, get on their bikes - it doesn't matter. Kerching. Ashamed This little perk perk 1 v. perked, perk·ing, perks v.intr. 1. To stick up or jut out: dogs' ears that perk. 2. To carry oneself in a lively and jaunty manner. is in addition to their salaries and a tax-free pounds 3500 a month to run their offices back here - but give me a call if you can find one. They also receive a snappy Snappy - Snappy Video Snapshot 200 euros every time they turn up for work. Given all that, it is perhaps time we all started to learn a lot more about Europe, even if it's just to find out where our hardearned cash is going. The European elections are on Thursday. Are you excited? Do you even know who your MEP MEP maximum expiratory pressure. MEP, n muscle energy procedure; diagnostic and therapeutic technique. Pulsed muscle energy techniques (MET) and integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique (INIT) are two examples. is? I am ashamed to say I don't - and I love politics and all the stuff that goes along with it. People will want to vote this time because it is the first election we have had since Gordon Brown came to power and the MPs' expenses scandal. We will want to let them know how angry we all are but that doesn't mean we have any idea what is going on in our name in Brussels and Strasbourg. If we are outraged at our MPs' expenses here, I fear we might have a collective heart attack if we start looking across the Channel. Apparently 75 per cent of our laws are now made in Europe but most of our MEPs seem content to live the quiet life and keep cashing their cheques. They can moan about the lack of coverage given to their parliaments but it's down to them to bang the drum. Possibly, too many fear that yet it news. I a soldier else we are but we what they there and they are will only draw attention to their life of Reilly. * IF the MPs standing down at the next election think they will get a round of applause for falling on their swords, they will be disappointed. They are only going because they've been caught with both hands in the till. While we wait for the election, they will continue to get their grubby grub·by adj. grub·bi·er, grub·bi·est 1. Dirty; grimy: grubby old work clothes. 2. Infested with grubs. 3. mitts on hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money. They should show a bit of dignity and, for God's sake, go now. More deaths in this week - makes the another death of like something to stop never forget doing out sacrifices * More deaths in Afghanistan this week - yet it barely makes the news. I know another death of a soldier feels like something else we are powerless to stop but we should never forget what they are doing out there and the sacrifices they are CAPTION(S): Life of luxury: MEPs get lots of perks for working in Strasbourg |
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