Sarah's letter to the Express explaining the problems of UK laws ruling MEPs

Written by Sarah Ludford MEP - Letter to the Daily Express on Fri 7th Sep 2007

The Editor,

The Daily Express

Dear Sir,

I understand and indeed share the outrage of your correspondent F Walker (Letters, Sep 7th) that convicted benefit fraudster Ashley Mote, elected as a UKIP member of the European Parliament three years ago, gets to keep his seat in the European Parliament along with his salary and allowances.

But it's not at all a case of "we can't trust Europe". The blame rests fully and squarely with the British government and Westminster parliament since the question of whether he remains an MEP is a matter of UK law alone, with the European Parliament powerless to intervene. British law provides that an MP or MEP is only disqualified if they are sent to prison for more than a year, and Mote got 9 months.

MEPs are deeply unhappy at our inability to chuck out Mr Mote, and because we get the flak (like for the travelling circus to Strasbourg) when we are not in fact able to change the rules.

I would be more than happy to co-sign a letter to Gordon Brown with Mr/Ms Walker demanding that the law be changed.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Ludford