Graham's Transparency Promise

I am frequently asked by people what I like about being an MEP. My answer is that it enables me to do a job that I love. I am proud to represent my constituents in the European Parliament, working hard to address their concerns and helping to build a liberal and democratic Europe. That is why I left a much better paid job with HSBC in 1994 to devote myself full time to politics.

I believe that if we want a democracy which is truly representative of the people, it is vital that financial barriers do not prevent a person from standing for and working in Parliament.

That is why we must not let the Westminster expenses scandal- which rightly outraged the British public- take us back hundreds of years to a time when only the exceptionally wealthy could hold public office.

Instead, we must ensure that salaries and expenses are paid in a fair and transparent way to inspire public confidence and make politics open to all. To do this, we need not only the right rules and procedures, but also an honest and morally guided approach to expenses by elected representatives.

I am therefore committed to;

• publishing details of the expenses I claim

• using expenses only in pursuance of my work as an MEP

• always seeking the best value for money

I list below details of my salary, the expenses I claim and how they are spent. If you have any questions about these, please feel free to ask.

Graham Watson MEP

MEPs Pay and Expenses

SALARY

MEPs are paid a salary fixed at the rate of 38.5% of a European Court of Justice Judge. This currently amounts to €91,983 pa.

When this salary rate was set in 2005 to eliminate discrepancies between different nationalities, British MEPs effectively voted for a reduction in their salaries. However, as the UK is not part of the Eurozone and the value of the Pound has dropped dramatically against the Euro, British MEPs have ended up being paid more than Westminster MPs. Should the Pound strengthen against the Euro, British MEPs will see a reduction in their salaries.

Taxes deducted by the European Parliament are of a lower rate than those in Britain. However, Liberal Democrat MEPs opt to pay a supplementary tax plus national insurance, bringing our contribution in line with that of our constituents'.

I was a member of the European Parliament's voluntary pension scheme between 1994 and 2009.

I am a full time MEP; it is my only salaried job and normally involves a working week of over 70 hours.

Members of the public can follow my work through this website, Facebook and through my weekly emailed newsletter from the European Parliament. To be added to my mailing list, email euro_office@cix.co.uk.

To keep track of my work in Parliament, follow the link below to the VoteWatch website.

Vote Watch.

To see a full copy of my Declaration of Interests, follow the link below.

Graham Watson's Declaration of Interests.

AWAY FROM HOME ALLOWANCES

MEPs receive no Westminster-style second homes allowances.

Instead, they are entitled to a daily allowance of €298 to cover accommodation and subsistence costs. This is strictly related to actual attendance at Parliament, and is regulated by a Parliamentary register.

Travel

Up until July 2009, travel expenses within the South West were paid from the General Expenses account (see below). However, since July 2009, all travel expenses are administered and paid directly by the European Parliament authorities.

This includes travel to and from an MEP's constituency, which is now reimbursed on the basis of actual cost rather than a fixed rate. This is a vast improvement from the old system, and is a change that Liberal Democrats were eager to push through and keen to see built upon.

MEPs can submit claims for car journeys in their own countries up to a maximum distance of 24,000 km annually at the rate of €0.49/km. I try to avoid travelling by car as much as possible, but with a large rural constituency I cannot always do this.

GENERAL EXPENDITURE

Verified by Michael Miles Accountancy of Street (of no personal connection to me or any of my staff).

No part of this allowance goes to me by way of additional personal income.

In 2009, MEPs had an allowance of £39, 642 to cover the cost of constituency work.

This included;

• Office management and running costs

• Purchase or rental of office equipment

• Telephone and postage

• Office supplies

• Purchase of publications

• Internet

• IT hardware and software

It is useful to remember that I represent an area equivalent to 54 Westminster constituencies (plus Gibraltar) with 5 million constituents, and I strive to assist everyone who contacts me, however I can. As such, an efficient and effective constituency office is essential to my work.

General Expenses Allowance 2009

General Expenses Allowance 2008

 In 2008, MEPs had an allowance of £34,754 to cover the cost of constituency work. This includes all the costs mentioned above, as well as travel within the South West for constituency appointments and meetings.

Constituents and members of the press are welcome to make an appointment to view receipts for the General Expenses account at my constituency office.

STAFF ALLOWANCE

Administered by Michael Miles Accountancy of Street who is the designated paying agent (and of no personal connection to Graham or any of his staff).

No part of this allowance goes to Graham by way of additional personal income.

I currently employ the following members of staff.

Clockwise from left: Oliver Quinton, James Sully, Alexia Georghiades, Nicola Palmer, Jackie Frost

CONSTITUENCY OFFICE

Jackie Pearce - Office Manager - Salary £20,000-30,000

• Jackie joined my office in July 2007.

• Before this she worked for Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust for 10 years; initially as the Personal Assistant to the Medical Director and then as Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive, Chairman and the Trust Board of Directors.

Nicola Palmer - Administrator - £5,000-10,000

• Nicola is a former civil servant and joined my office in January 2005.

• She works 18 hours per week (term time only) and her time is mostly spent ensuring all the paperwork is logged and filed, and all records and databases are up-to-date.

James Sully - Caseworker - Salary £15,000 - £25,000

• James is a former civil servant with a degree in Law and Master's in International Affairs from Exeter University.

• James has worked for me since December 2007. As principal caseworker James assists me by providing research on the diverse variety of constituency casework.

Oliver Quinton - Political Assistant - Salary £10,000-£20,000

• Oliver joined my office in October 2008 as an intern, having graduated from Reading University with a BA Politics and International Relations.

• In July 2009, he became a full-time member of the team, assisting in research tasks and helping to communicate my work to constituents and the local press.

Rita Giannini - Office Premises and Personnel Manager- Paid Hourly, total annual payment falls between £10,000-20,000

• Rita is my wife. She has a Doctorate in Comparative Law from the University of Florence, Italy. She has worked for the Italian Liberal Youth Organisation and for a Regional Deputy in the Tuscan Region before moving to the UK, where she worked as the London Region Organiser for the Liberal Democrats for 5 years.

• Rita writes and manages the staff contracts, liaises with the Paying Agent and the European Parliament Officers. She looks after the office premises, pays the bills, prepares Budgets and Accounts. If needed, she collaborates with the Casework Officers on foreign casework.

Liz Peplow- Media Advisor (part-time)- Salary £5,000-£10,000

• Liz holds extensive media experience having spent 7 years at Horse and Hound and as Director of Press and Broadcasting for the Liberal Democrats.

• She assists my office and myself communicate my work as an MEP to the local media and 5m people in the South West.

BRUSSELS OFFICE

My Brussels staff are paid directly by the European Parliament but out of the above staff allowance. They are paid in line with Parliamentary pay scales.

Further details on Brussels staffing arrangements can be found here.

Alexia Georghiades- Parliamentary Assistant

• Alexia runs my Brussels office. She deals with enquiries and helps manage my parliamentary schedule.

Amy Busby - Stagiere

• Amy is a stagiere (intern) and assists in research tasks for my parliamentary work.

Office Accounts 2007