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An MEP for the United Kingdom Independence party is being investigated by the European Union’s anti-fraud watchdog over his use of expenses.
Michael Nattrass, who has represented the West Midlands in the European parliament since 2004, is the subject of an inquiry into whether Denis Brookes, one of his former aides, was paid through public funds while he was working as a regional organiser for UKIP. The EU does not allow taxpayers’ money to be used to pay party officials.
The inquiry into Nattrass, which is part of a wider investigation into UKIP’s finances, comes as one of its former MEPs, Tom Wise, was jailed last week for two years for embezzling funds out of his assistant’s allowance.
Separately, it has also emerged that Nattrass was using a business of which he was an equity partner as the “paying agent” for all his assistants’ salaries provided by the EU.
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Between 2004 and summer this year, all of his assistants’ allowances were channelled through the business account of Nattrass Giles, a chartered surveyors in Birmingham which he founded nearly 30 years ago.
Nattrass was a signatory to the bank account, although he insisted last night that the administration was handled by another partner in the firm who has since died.
MEPs must not act as their own paying agents. The role can only be performed by “third parties”.
New rules brought in since July this year have further tightened the controls and MEPs can now only use accredited people or companies as paying agents.
Nattrass said he had been told by EU officials that he could use his Birmingham company.
He also insisted that Brookes had worked for him in his capacity as an MEP until his employment as an aide came to an end three years ago.
The facts behind this are at CLICK HERE
Quite the idiot Nattrass had someone write a letter for him (it is in intelligible English!) as:
Dear All.
I am pleased to say there is no truth in the Foggo article.
Foggo knows this because we spoke prior to him going to press… but it made no difference…. so much for the facts.
There is no enquiry into paying agents. So there is no “Fraud Enquiry” However>
Nattrass Giles were not Limited. Foggo knows this and the shares stuff is a made up Foggo mythe. He even confirmed he knew it was not limited when I spoke to him!
NG were suggested as paying agent by the EU officials when I filled in the forms in 2004. I declared my connection with NG and it complied with the rules. NG paid very few employees as paying agents and the payroll was overseen by Chartered Accountants. It more than complied with the EU rules, because at that time the Chartered Accountants were not essential
They are asking whether Brookes worked for me or for the Party as RO. This is Brookes again complaining and I have beaten him off many times in court on this already. He worked for me and the fact is obvious as this was my very high profile argument with him when he failed to attend meetings.
Anyway it appears the Times want to stop me in the leadership race.
I like a challenge like this. But it may be time to go for damages against the Sunday Times and Edwards and the inflamed way Edwards reports these things will not impress the court.
Mike
So lets look at this in some detail:
I am pleased to say there is no truth in the Foggo article.
Having read Foggo’s article and having checked the details what wasn’t true – I can see no errors in it so why are you making a fool of yourself Nattrass?
Foggo knows this because we spoke prior to him going to press… but it made no difference…. so much for the facts.
Well having spoken to him you will probably have told him that when you got back from swanning around in the Philippines on a family holiday having had all summer off it seems! As a doughty MEP for EUkip you had received the information that Derek Bennett the fireplace chap and part time Regional Organiser had been questioned by OLAF and I presume that they had tried to clarify Lynn Ashraff’s position too and others. No doubt Nattrass also told Foggo that he had received some of the details from OLAF regarding the fraud enquiry.
Which fact was it Nattrass didn’t understand exactly?
There is no enquiry into paying agents. So there is no “Fraud Enquiry” However>
I wonder if that was what Nattrass was told or what he would like to portray or even believe.
Nattrass Giles were not Limited. Foggo knows this and the shares stuff is a made up Foggo mythe.
Even in the original article there was no mention of Limited!
It has also emerged that Nattrass was using a company of which he was a shareholding partner as the “paying agent” for all his assistants’ salaries provided by the EU.
You will note since it is a standard paper rather than a financial journal it called Nattrass a ‘shareholding partner’ had it been a financial journal it would no doubt have said he had ‘a share in the equity having been a founding partner’.
He even confirmed he knew it was not limited when I spoke to him!
So Foggo was right – glad Nattrass confirmed that!
NG were suggested as paying agent by the EU officials when I filled in the forms in 2004.
I do doubt that they understood because this clearly is not compliant with the intent of ‘paying agents’.
I declared my connection with NG and it complied with the rules.
This is just not very plausible – what would be the point of paying agents? The aim is to remove the MEP from control of the money not just to put it into an account with a different name that the MEP controls!
NG paid very few employees as paying agents and the payroll was overseen by Chartered Accountants. It more than complied with the EU rules, because at that time the Chartered Accountants were not essential
No but the purpose was that Nattrass did NOT have control of his own expenses.
They are asking whether Brookes worked for me or for the Party as RO.
Then why is Nattrass dennying he is being investigated when he is?
This is Brookes again complaining and I have beaten him off many times in court on this already.
Oh so there is an on going investigation!
He worked for me and the fact is obvious as this was my very high profile argument with him when he failed to attend meetings.
In normal parlance this is called a defence!
Anyway it appears the Times want to stop me in the leadership race.
This is delusional – The Sunday Times could care less who wins and clearly Nattrass is nowhere near a runner – he even Miked off on holiday during the campaign. Farage was spot on when he said of Nattrass & Batten they were ‘uncrdible candidates for the leadership!
I like a challenge like this. But it may be time to go for damages against the Sunday Times and Edwards and the inflamed way Edwards reports these things will not impress the court.
If Nattrass is serious he is an even greater idiot than many of us thought him to be!
Before emulating Farage and making an utter pratt of himself in the Courts and risking the same type of debts Farage has incurred I suggest poor old Mike tries to explain what his case against The Sunday Times is as to more than shout rude words and sabre rattle could well do Nattrass a huge financial damage.
Interestingly, much as EUkip might like to control Freedom of Speech just what crime does Nattrass believe Edwards has committed? That would look good as Nattrass would surely loose!
TO LEAVE THE EU
What is the exit and survival plan for these United Kingdoms to maximise on the many benefits of leaving The EU. It is the DUTY of our Politicians and Snivil Cervants to ensure the continuity, liberty and right to self determination of our peoples they have a DUTY to protect against crime and secure both our food and our border.
NONE of these DUTIES has a single British politician upheld for 40 years. They have drawn their incomes fraudulently and dishonesty.
Politicians are failing to tell the truth, but so are almost all wanabe Politicians, the MSM and Snivil Cervants.
The fact is that even if EVERY British MEP wanted change in The EU it would achieve NOTHING.
Every single British Politician, of EVERY Party, elected since before we joined the EUropean Common Market, has promised to change The EU’s CAP – In 40 Years they have achieved absolutely NOTHING!
To try to put a value on OUR Freedom is as futile as floccipaucinihilipilification and as odious as the metissage of our societies, as we rummage in the ashes of our ancestors dreams, sacrifices and achievements, the flotsam of our hopes and the jetsam of our lives, consider the Country and Anglosphere which we thus leave our children and the future, with shame!
Regards,
Greg L-W.
01291 – 62 65 62
PLEASE POST THIS TAG AS FOLLOWS:ON YOUR eMAILS & BLOGS, FORUM POSTINGS & MAILINGS – GET THE MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE IT IS OUR BEST HOPE AS WHOEVER IS APPOINTED WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE AS PROVED!
I SUGGEST – since there is clearly no political party of repute, advocating or campaigning for withdrawal of these United Kingdoms from the EU and restoration of our independent sovereign, democracy, with Justice & the right to self determination in a free country. Deny the self seeking & meaningless wanabe MEPs the Mythical Mandate for which they clamour. Diktat is imposed from The EU but Law should be made at Westminster, for our Country & our Peoples.
Write Upon Your Ballot Paper at EVERY election:
LEAVE THE EU
to
GET YOUR COUNTRY BACK
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