MEP answers Silly Simon
18 May 2009
Statement by Jim Allister QC MEP:
“Simon Hamilton’s statement – which is only possible because uniquely I publish my expenses – is just plain silly. The motive of trying to divert attention from the mire engulfing the DUP in the expenses scandal, is clear, but the attempt is pathetic.
The arrangements governing my expenses have not changed: the same regime prevails as when I was the DUP MEP, when, of course, Mr Hamilton had no criticisms to make. Indeed, I operate under exactly the same expenses regime as governed Ian Paisley during his 25 years in Europe.
If Auditor Simon wants to test his aspiring forensic accounting skills, then I invite him to try and untangle the expenses saga of my predecessor, including how it was possible to have a huge European salary paid for 7 years for a post, supposedly based in Brussels, to Rhonda Paisley, who never lived there and who was even able to take months out to prepare an art exhibition.
If Mr Hamilton knew anything about how the EU operates he would not make such crass assertions as me costing the UK taxpayer £280,000. Only my salary (£63,000) is paid directly by the UK taxpayer, other costs are met by the Parliament.
Yes, I could reduce my travel bill by following the DUP pattern of not bothering to attend the parliament to which I am elected, but, sorry, I believe in doing the full-time job of fighting for Northern Ireland in Europe.
When Mr Hamilton – who worries about my cost to the taxpayer, but would happily add that cost to the Dodds family account – has untangled the Paisley claims of 1979-2004, maybe he could turn his attention to how it was that Mrs Dodds charged the hard-pressed ratepayers of Belfast £4,969 to fly to the USA on one return flight in June 2007! (See http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/government/Docs/CouncillorsExpenses0708.xls )
For one, allegedly, so concerned about wasting taxpayers’ money, he might explain the gross waste, which he perpetuates, of having 2 publicly funded DUP offices opposite each other in Comber.”
