MEP calls for cross party code of conduct

MEP Chris Davies

The Conservative Party decision to launch a code of conduct for candidates standing in next year’s European Parliament elections has been welcomed by a Euro-MP campaigning for reform.

Under the plans, which come into effect in September, Tory MEPs will have to publish the names of any relatives they employ, their approximate salary and details of any other staff members paid from public funds.

Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat MEP who in February revealed the contents of a secret auditors’ report detailing the misuse of public money by some parliamentarians, has welcomed the new rules.

He is calling on the other political parties to sign up and form a cross-party agreement before the European Elections next June.

He said: “I welcome David Cameron’s initiative which is inevitable given Conservative MEPs have been so much in the spotlight in recent weeks.

“It is in the public interest that all political parties ensure that all candidates in next year's elections are committed to high standards of high standards of financial probity.”

He claims that significant reforms supported by all British MEPs are repeatedly blocked in the European Parliament because of opposition from members elsewhere.

He said: “The European Parliament may be incapable of reforming itself.
Dutch, Scandinavian and British campaigners will never secure a majority in favour of radical improvement while there is no pressure on others to vote for change.”

Last month the Liberal Democrats published a code of conduct for the
2009 European elections.

The code includes rules on the employment of assistants and the publication of allowances claimed.