Greens question UKIP's commitment to democracy and ethical standards

The Green Party in Eastern Region is questioning UKIP's commitment to democracy and ethical standards following a string of serious allegations and investigations into the conduct of the party and its MEPs.

UKIP won 2 seats in Eastern region at the European Elections in 2004, yet increasingly, questions are being asked as to what they have achieved with their mandate and the quality of their ethical standards in regard to finances.

The Electoral Commission is currently investigating UKIP at the national level following the party's receipt of hundreds of thousands of pounds that should not have been accepted under electoral law. The Commission is also investigating the failure of UKIP at a number of levels to submit proper accounts.

The Sunday Times this week carried a serious allegation that one of the Eastern region UKIP MEPs had improperly used tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money in the running of his office.

These investigations come on top of Green Party research at the time of the last European Elections showing that UKIP MEPs were some of the least effective of any party in terms of attending debates, voting or supporting measures to help the environment.

Cllr. Rupert Read, Eastern Region Green Party spokesperson, commented,

UKIP are of course entitled to put up candidates and stand for the policies they believe in. However, the Green party is increasingly concerned that once elected, UKIP are failing to meet basic ethical and democratic standards. It was after all UKIP who claimed to want to end the EU gravy train yet who are now themselves under investigation.

If people are looking to a party to support that is different from the "main three" and they want to register concern about the way the EU is developing, they can vote Green. We want to see a more democratic Europe, committed to tackling major issues of common concern including action on climate change, combating pollution and promoting peaceful conflict resolution. We oppose the single currency and the federalist constitution.

There are already 2 UK Greens in the European Parliament who have been shown to be hard working, committed, responsive to their electorate and setting high ethical standards. The reality of the voting system at the next European elections in 2009 means that it is likely to be UKIP or the Greens that wins one or two of the remaining seats after the others have been awarded to the "main three" parties. We stand ready to work hard for voters if we get elected and we also commit to the highest ethical standards."

Margaret Wright, Green Party lead candidate at both the 2004 and 1999 European Elections in Eastern region added

"UKIP seem to have an arrogant disregard to the electors and taxpayers who put them into office. They used the European Elections to mount a wholly negative media based campaign against the EU and its lack of accountability yet now are under investigation themselves. All this does is to bring politics further into disrepute. Yet there are many people in politics, including the Greens, genuinely trying to raise serious issues and put forward positive solutions for the future. If UKIP are incapable of meeting basic democratic and ethical standards the electorate will have a clear choice in 2 years time to vote for the Greens as a party who will live up to high standards and work hard for people in this region."

For more information, please contact Cllr. Rupert Read 01603 219294 mobile 07946 459066

Eastern Region Green Party Press Office 01376 584576 mobile 07951 923073

Notes:

1. The Electoral Commission has announced that it will be taking legal action to require the UK Independence Party to forfeit £367,697 of impermissible donations.

The Commission will also fine the party £1,000 for the unacceptably late filing of its 2005 annual statement of accounts - nearly six months after an already extended deadline. The partys South East accounting unit will also be fined £500 for filing its accounts more than six months late.

2. An MEP from the UK Independence party (UKIP) is under investigation for fraud after allegedly embezzling tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money by pretending to be someone else.

The Sunday Times of 25th February reported allegations that bank documents show that Eastern Region UKIP MEP Tom Wise channelled nearly £40,000 of public funds into his personal account after claiming it was for an assistant's salary. He is now being investigated by a European antifraud watchdog, which has asked to interview him and others in connection with the case.