North West MEP expelled over expenses abuse

Date published: 13/11/2008

A North West MEP has been expelled after he was found guilty of expenses abuses.

Conservative leader David Cameron ordered former Conservative chief whip in the European Parliament Den Dover to repay more than £500,000.

Dover faces a criminal investigation over payments to a family company run by his wife and daughter.

Another North West MEP, Chris Davies, who sparked a furore earlier this year by releasing a secret report highlighting the abuse of European Parliament expenses intended for staff, has today praised the Conservative Party for withdrawing the Whip from Dover.
Mr Davies said: “For once the European Parliament has carried out a proper investigation, and its insistence that money inappropriately used be repaid has been backed up by firm and welcome action by the Conservative Party.

“This is good for the European Parliament and for trust in politics.

"With elections taking place next summer it is important that voters in Britain can have confidence that MEPs here are not on the fiddle.”