Harman to review rule on jailed MEPs and MPs
British legislation which allowed disgraced former UKIP MEP Ashley Mote to continue receiving his salary while serving a jail sentence is to be reviewed, after Yorkshire and the Humber MEP Richard Corbett brought the issue to the attention of the House of Commons.
Mote, who was reportedly released from jail after just two months this week, was sentenced to nine months in prison in September after being convicted of benefit fraud.
Richard said: “It's disappointing to see Mote released so quickly, especially because it caused the ridiculous situation where he received his taxpayers' funded salary, while in jail at the expense of the taxpayer and all for defrauding the taxpayer in the first place.
“I brought this to the attention of the Leader of the House, Harriet Harman, who is responsible for the payment of MEPs and MPs, and she has told me there are now plans to review the legislation to ensure that in the future any MEPs or MPs who serve prison sentences would not be paid because they would not able to carry out all the functions they were elected to do.”
- Members of the European Parliament receive the same salary as a Member of Parliament and are paid by the British taxpayer.
- An anomaly in British law means a MP or MEP can continue to receive their salary and does not have to stand down as long as their jail sentence does not exceed 12 months.
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
© 2003-2006 Richard Corbett MEP