I am tired of listening to the negative political spin being espoused by Cameron and Osborne about our membership of the EU. Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 seems to fawn over the ‘IN CROWD” and casts mild sarcasm at those who opine that OUT is better. Well, Mr Cameron, Mr Osborne and Mr Vine - here is just another reason while I will be voting OUT come 23rd June although I suspect I will be in the minority:
MEPs: The salaries and allowances of the MEPs of the 27 EU states now total £137million. But this does not include the cost of the £217,000 office allowance available to each MEP. Do you know who your MEP is? Did you vote for an MEP at the last election? MEPs earn about 200 per cent more than Westminster MPs! Unlike MPs in this country, MEPs still vote on their own salaries and perks. And what exactly do they do for us? I would suggest something like the square route of diddly-squat! Do we need them? The answer for me lies in the question. MEPs on the Brussels gravy-train now enjoy an average income of £182,826 including allowances for attendance and travel. Why? Why on earth do we put up with this? MEPs now have incomes up to 20 times higher than the people they represent. But have you ever seriously asked yourself - what do they do for this extravagant lifestyle afforded to them by an eye-watering level of income? If you are going to vote “IN” are you really happy with this? I am extremely concerned about the cost of the European Parliament, which maintains expensive legislatures in both Brussels and Strasbourg but still has relatively few real powers, except over the EU budget where it has repeatedly voted for above-inflation increases. The power in Europe lies with the unelected EU commissioners.
I am voting for an end to this gravy-train, at least for our British MEPs, control of our own borders and no more payments for being a member of an organisation that I see as marching towards a Federal Republic of Europe. And let’s be clear about what we do contribute. Our “rebate” is effectively deducted at source, and so not actually sent to the EU. Using the post-rebate figure, it’s more accurate to say the UK sends £35 million a day to the EU. That still represents a net figure of £12.8 billion per annum! Just consider how better we could use such a sum for our own purpose.
Here is my parting shot Mr Cameron. I would rather endure a period of austerity in which we are in control of our own destiny than for ever relinquish our sovereignty to the mandarins of Brussels and Frankfurt. That is not a choice I can, for one moment, consider. You know which way I will be voting….
