26th May 2009

Caroline Lucas MEP, leader of the Green Party, has been rated best British MEP on transparency, accountability, democracy and waste by campaign group Open Europe. And Britain's Green Party MEPs were ranked above the groups of all other British parties. Photo: Ricky Knight, Lead Green Euro candidate

See also here re more about Euro elections.

Ricky Knight, Lead-Euro Green party SW candidate, said: "We have seen too many British MEPs voting against transparency and reform. We urgently need politicians all all levels of Government that are committed to acting in the public interest and getting a very much better deal for taxpayers. I'm delighted that the Green Party has topped the poll on promoting transparency and reform in the EU. It shows more clearly than ever that if people want to see greater democracy, transparency and accountability in parliament, the best way of achieving that is to vote Green on 4 June."

Open Europe published a ranking of all 785 Members of the European Parliament, scoring their record on promoting transparency and reform in the European Union over the last five-year term. Open Europe's ranking was based on a range of activities, including voting records, attendance, written declarations, and whether the MEPs themselves have taken part in wasteful activities, such as the controversial second pension fund (i).


**Crisis in democracy is not just about expenses**

Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor and spokesperson for the Gloucestershire Green party, said: "We've heard lots about expenses in the media, but the crisis in British democracy goes much further. Disillusionment with politics has been building up for years. We have an unfair electoral system that practically guarantees a government which more people voted against than voted for. Instead of public engagement with politics there is widespread apathy, cynicism and anger. Greens want a complete overhaul of British democracy - including a proportional elections system and a democratised House of Lords."


**UKIP leader shares bottom with a Conservative, a Labour MEP and a LibDem**

The bottom nine places in the survey were occupied by four Conservatives and five UKIP MEPs - with the tenth-worst British MEP slot being held jointly by UKIP leader Nigel Farage and an MEP each from Labour, the Conservatives and the LibDems.

Open Europe's Research Director Mats Persson said commented: "No matter where their political sympathies may lie, MEPs should all be working for a more open, democratic EU, while trying to reduce the waste of taxpayers' money.  These issues should be at the top of their agenda - especially now when the public's trust in politicians is at an all-time low."

Notes:

(i) Open Europe awarded points based on a "Premier League" model, where 3 points was the highest score, followed by 1 point and 0 points. On attendance, a scale from 1 to 6 was used. MEPs who had been the subject of substantive press reports of wrongdoing were shown Open Europe's "red card" and had 10 points deducted from their score.

Open Europe's categories were as follows:

**A) Transparency, openness and democracy**

MEPs are ranked according to whether they:

1. Voted for easier public access to EU documents
2. Voted against keeping MEPs' expenses and accounts secret
3. Voted to increase transparency, including better public access to MEPs' voting records
4. Responded to Open Europe's Transparency Initiative on expenses and allowances
5. Voted in favour of imposing sanctions for MEPs guilty of financial irregularities
6. Voted in favour of providing mandatory receipts for travel expenses
7. Voted to respect the outcome of the pending legally-binding Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty
8. Voted in favour of opening Europe up to trade with developing countries
9. Achieved good attendance at the Parliament's voting sessions

**B) Fighting waste and misuse of EU funds**

MEPs are ranked according to whether they:

1. Opted out of the Parliament's controversial second pension fund
2. Voted in favour of cleaning up the second pension fund
3. Supported moves to abolish the Parliament's second seat in Strasbourg
4. Voted against 'hypocritical' EU subsidies to tobacco farmers
5. Voted to reform the CAP and discontinue subsidies to tobacco farmers
6. Voted not to clear the European Parliament's accounts for 2006 due to 75% unaccounted expenditure on MEPs' assistants' allowances
7. Voted not to approve the Parliament's accounts for 2007
8. Voted not to approve the Commission's accounts for 2007
9. Voted to postpone clearing the European Council's accounts for 2007
10. Voted against clearing the accounts of the European Police College for 2007 while it was under investigation for fraud

To see the league table, please click here:
http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/mepranking.xls
(See sheet two for UK MEPs only)

For a guide to the criteria used in the ranking, please click here:
http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/rankingguide.pdf

(ii) The Green Party is to submit proposals to the Kelly commission regarding the issue of MPs' expenses. The Greens believe that a full-blown investigation of what has gone wrong is essential if the reforms are to work properly. See more at:
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/21-05-cheating-on-expenses.html

Cllr Ricky Knight - South West Green Party Lead Candidate for 2009 European Elections
http://southwest.greenparty.org.uk/euro09

Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for North Devon
www.northdevongreens.org.uk

Mob: 07986 941 026

Donate? And why not! http://www.greennotgrey.org.uk

Published and promoted by Ryan Cleminson, for and on behalf of the Green Party South West, 72/73 Old Market Street, BRISTOL, BS2 0EJ  Tel: 01173 763 742