MEPs accuse Tory party grandee over EU election 'attack'

MEPs have rounded on British Conservative grandee Norman Tebbit who urged voters to turn away from mainstream parties in June's election in protest over the conduct of UK MPs.

Tebbit, a former Tory party chairman and close aide to former UK premier Margaret Thatcher, was responding to the ongoing furore in Britain about MPs' expenses.

He said he believed low voter turnout would be the best way of expressing public outrage over ongoing revelations about abuses of the expenses system currently dominating Westminster.

Speaking on BBC radio, he said the electorate could "send a shot across their [MPs'] bows" by not voting for the main parties in the 4-7 June European elections.

"What I am advising people is to show the major parties that it is the electors who are masters and the electors are extremely upset with their employees in the House of Commons," he said.

Some analysts interpreted the comments as a signal to voters to choose the UK Independence Party instead.

But his remarks were condemned by party colleague Edward McMillan-Scott, a vice president of parliament, who described them as "very disappointing".

The Tory MEP, who is standing for re-election, told TheParliament.com, "He is allowing his prejudices to cloud his judgment about an important set of elections.

"This is very disappointing, particularly at a very difficult time for elected politicians. Maybe if the House of Lords in the UK was subject to the same scrutiny as the House of Commons and the European parliament he would button up."

His comments were echoed by Gary Titley, a former leader of the UK Socialist group in parliament, who said, "Tebbit is talking nonsense.

"If anything, he is damaging his own party. There is obviously a problem with MPs' expenses that has to be solved but this should not be a reason for people not voting in these important elections."

Titley said the row over MPs' expenses - with members of UK premier Gordon Brown's government at the forefront of criticism - may make it harder to encourage people to vote.

"The last few days, since the row erupted, have been very tough going and there could be a backlash come election day," he said.

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