Kilroy-Silk urged to give up EU parliament salary

Under-fire UK deputy Robert Kilroy-Silk has been criticised for the “series of stupid” questions he has put to the commission during his term as an MEP.

The criticism comes as the former TV presenter has faced new calls for his MEP salary and expenses to be suspended while he spends weeks in Australia taking part in a celebrity TV show.

UK Labour MEP Glyn Ford has asked parliament for a ruling on whether Kilroy-Silk should be paid to be away from his political duties.

Ford has tabled a formal written question to parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering which said: "Can the President confirm whether (Kilroy-Silk) has sought his permission for leave of absence for this Strasbourg session, and has the president given permission?

"If not, in light of press reports that the above member has chosen to go to Australia to earn tens of thousands of pounds for taking part in a rather tacky reality TV show, will the president ask the quaestors (MEPs in charge of rules and administration) whether or not they feel that the above member's salary and office expenses should be suspended during his sojourn in the Australian jungle?"

UKIP East Midlands MEP Derek Clark pointed out that Kilroy-Silk will not be able to represent his constituents while he is away and yet will pick up more than €3,000 in taxpayer's money.

"As Robert will not be attending work in parliament, I wonder if he will give his parliamentary wage and allowances for the time he is on this show to a suitable charity?," he said.

Clark said the issue has a precedent - when British MP George Galloway was on Channel 4's Big Brother he did not receive his House of Commons salary while in the house.

Former Labour MP Kilroy Silk joined UKIP in 2004 and was elected to represent the party as an MEP. But he fell out with the party leadership in 2005 and left. He now sits in parliament as a "non attached" MEP.

Meanwhile a series of questions, seen by this website, show the “frivolity” of many of the questions tabled by Kilroy-Silk since he was elected.

One , from December 2007, said, “Does the commission attribute the death of culture in France to its absorption into the EU? Is this why it has no artist or writer of international standing?”

Another, dated May 2008, said, “What steps is the commission taking to prevent German muck-spreading being smelt in London?”

A parliamentary insider said, “This shows just how stupid and frivolous are many of the questions he’s tabled.”

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