Labour MEPs hit out at EU funding of BNP

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Tuesday, 21 February 2012, 17:57

Glenis Willmott MEP, Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party, has written to the President of the European Parliament expressing her unhappiness at the decision to award Nick Griffin and two other fascist MEPs €289,266 of EU taxpayers' money after the Alliance of European Nationalist Movements (AENM) was recognised as a pan-European political group.

In her letter, written on behalf of all Labour MEPs, Glenis Willmott described the BNP as "an extremist nationalist and xenophobic group that thrives on division and fear."

She asked how the AENM had met the criteria for funding this year when they had been refused in the past. She add: "And how can a group whose programme is in contradiction of the anti-discrimination articles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and of those contained in the Treaties, be eligible for funding from the European Parliament?

"Indeed, the European Parliament regulations governing political parties states that they should uphold "the founding principles of the European Union, namely the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law". Is it the Bureau's assessment that the parties within this group now meet these criteria?"

She concluded: "it is very difficult to explain the Parliament's action to our voters and supporters. Such decisions do nothing to promote how Parliament is perceived in the UK."

We welcome this letter and await the President's response with interest.