Corbett challenges Farage

The Deputy Leader of Labour in the European Parliament, has written to Nigel Farage, a contender for the UKIP leadership, to ask him to clarify a bizarre pledge made to UKIP members.

Yorkshire and Humber MEP, Richard Corbett, has demanded an explanation from Farage after the UKIP MEP promised that, should he win, he will devote the majority of his time to the party, rather than to the South East constituency that elected him.

Mr Corbett said of the pledge:  "UKIP's contempt for the British public manifests itself in many forms, but I have never seen such an open, blatant statement from them that proves just how little they are willing to do for their constituents.

"I am sure many people would like to work part-time in order to pursue other interests, but if you hold an elected position then you have a real responsibility to the electorate - who pay you a full time salary.

"If Mr Farage does intend on receiving his salary, it will be an act of pure hypocrisy, arrogance and contempt for those people he is charged with serving."

Dear Mr Farage,

As the UK Independence Party's leadership contest draws to a close, I am writing to ask you to publicly clarify a manifesto pledge you have made to your membership.

On your website - www.votenigel.org - you state:

"As the elected Leader of UKIP I would cut my time over there [Brussels and Strasbourg] to 6 or 7 days a month, and the rest of my working time I would devote to UKIP affairs."

I would hope that you do not need to be reminded that it is the British taxpayer who pays for you to carry out your duties as an MEP.  Your constituents expect you to be representing their needs in Parliament on a full-time basis, and they do not expect you to reduce your working hours in order to follow your own personal political agenda.

You often speak, unfairly I might add, of the EU as a "gravy train", with those elected to serve the people being involved purely for their own financial gain.  On this basis, and should you be elected Leader, may I assume that you will not be receiving your full salary from the European Parliament, as a result of the reduced representative service that you will be offering your constituents?  I would hope that we both agree, receiving your full salary would be an act of astonishing hypocrisy and contempt for the hardworking tax payers of the United Kingdom.

Yours sincerely ,

Richard Corbett MEP

Deputy Leader of Labour MEPs

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• Richard Corbett is a Labour MEP for Yorkshire & Humber.  He is the Deputy Leader of the Labour MEPs and Constitutional Affairs Spokesman for the Party of European Socialists.
• Nigel Farage MEP is one of four candidates for the UKIP leadership. 
• The comments questioned by Mr Corbett can be found on http://www.votenigel.org/10_asknigel.shtml in answer to a question asked by a Christopher Browne.

more information

Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP

• phone 0113 245 8987
• e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk