How greed corrupts politics

From bath plugs to second homes, every week another scandal around politicians’ expenses bursts in the news.

In Brussels, as in Westminster, serious questions have been raised over huge amounts of cash claimed by elected representatives, on top of their already substantial wages.

A senior Tory MEP, Giles Chichester, last year admitted paying £400,000 for office services to a company of which he was a director.
But the dodgy dealings go even deeper than the vast sums politicians have siphoned through expense claims. A recent report by campaign group Spinwatch found a series of potential conflicts of interest amongst MEPs – including several currently employed by companies who have vested interest in the MEPs’ work as legislators.

For example, Scottish Tory John Purvis MEP whose financial interests include being a partner in a firm that invests in the biotechnology sector. At the same time Purvis is regarded as the leading Conservative MEP promoting biotech in the European Parliament.

The report – Too Close for Comfort? – looks at 12 MEPs’ links to business – but describes their records as “representative” rather than “extraordinary”.

With many MEPs paid directly by corporations, others accepting armfuls of gifts, and the whole shebang surrounded by business lobbyists, it’s fair to ask who our MEPs really represent.

In our time in the Scottish Parliament, SSP MSPs brought the voices of people and communities, rather than the interests of corporations, into Holyrood. Striking nursery nurses, child poverty campaigners and pensioners’ groups were amongst those we helped to get a hearing in Parliament.

Further, our elected politicians pledge to reject the inflated salaries of parliamentarians – from this year 84,000 euros for MEPs – and take the average wage of a skilled worker in Scotland.

This isn’t a gesture, or because socialists enjoy a spot of sackcloth and ashes – for us it’s a principle of accountability. Our elected representatives go to parliament to do a job – to represent the views and fight for the rights of our voters – not to develop a career.
We promise you won’t see us disappear over the horizon on the gravy train.