MEPs condemned over expenses 'shame'

Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies has spoken out against the European parliament's decision to keep an internal audit of MEPs' expenses secret.

Mr Davies, the former head of the Lib Dem MEPs in Brussels, said the votes brought "discredit and dishonour" upon the parliament.

MEPs approved ending the practice of employing family members to help them with their work in the non-binding vote, a move passed by 477 votes to 149.

But they also voted 442 to 209 to keep the internal audit confidential, a move condemned by Mr Davies.

And the parliament backed preventing the names of 407 MEPs who have taken up a voluntary pension scheme being published.

The audit is believed to contain damning details of MEPs using the expense allowances to their advantage. The Daily Telegraph newspaper says it has seen the audit and describes it as containing "endemic irregularities".

As yesterday's votes were part of the broader ratification of the European parliament's budget they must go through a complex process to come into force. Senior MEPs will make the final decision on financial matters.

"Far from cleaning up their act, a majority of MEPs seem intent on allowing greed and self-interest to triumph over the proper financial management of public money," Mr Davies said.

"On today's performance Europe's taxpayers could be forgiven for believing that there are more honest people to be found in prison that sit among in the European parliament."