Kilroy urged to give up MEP salary

5:11pm Tuesday 18th November 2008

Pressure is mounting on Robert Kilroy-Silk to give up his MEP salary and expenses while he spends weeks in Australia taking part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Last week a former political colleague in the UK Independence Party - which Mr Kilroy-Silk left in 2005 - suggested the ex-television presenter should give his EU pay and perks during his well-paid time in the jungle to charity.

And now a Labour MEP is asking for a European Parliament ruling on whether an MEP paid to be away from his political duties should have his political earnings suspended.

UKIP East Midlands MEP Derek Clark pointed out that Mr 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 the European 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.

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

Labour MEP Glyn Ford, attending the monthly Strasbourg gathering of MEPs, tabled a formal written question to European Parliament President Hans Gert Poettering.

It said: "Can the President confirm whether (Mr 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?"

Former Labour MP Mr 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 the European Parliament as a "non attached" MEP.