#UKIP: European Parliament calls for repayment of misappropriated funds

The European Parliament's top decision-making body has, on 21 November, ruled that the UKIP-dominated ADDE party misappropriated more than €500,000 from the EU. The European Parliament's Bureau has ordered the party to repay €170,000 of misspent funds. The party will be unable to recoup hundreds of thousands of euro of spending found to have been in breach of the rules.

The findings are based on a report by an external auditing company. The Bureau concluded that UKIP had financed polls in support of UKIP leader Nigel Farage's UK General Election campaign in 2015, and to develop the party's EU referendum campaign. Funds from the European Union must not be used to finance national parties or national electoral campaigns.

Welcoming the decision, Greens/EFA MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek said: "There are clear rules for EU funding of political parties, and UKIP has clearly broken them. It is, therefore, correct that the European Parliament's Bureau has decided that the funds should be repaid. UKIP has spent years accusing the EU of being corrupt and of wasting taxpayers' money. The hypocrisy is breath-taking."

The UK's Electoral Commission is also conducting an inquiry into alleged fraud linked to the 2015 British general election. There are particular concerns about fraud in the area of South Thanet, where Nigel Farage was a candidate. Several police forces are investigating allegations that the Conservative Party was involved in the misuse of national party funds.

Share this article: