Standard MEP pay proposed

PLANS TO clean up the gravy train image of the European Parliament could bring a pay rise for British Euro MPs.

British deputies, currently on the same basic pay rates as their House of Commons counterparts - pounds 45,000 - would enjoy an increase of over pounds 2,000 a year under proposals to harmonise salaries for all 626 members.

Harmonising salaries is seen as a precondition to doing away with the wasteful system of lump-sum travel expenses and other allowances, which rarely reflect the actual sums an MEP has to spend.

The allowances would be replaced by a system of reimbursement of only what the MEP actually spends.

Tony Blair declared war on MEPs' lavish expenses and perks at the European summit in Cardiff last June and heads of governments demanded that Strasbourg bring forward proposals for reform by the end of this year.