Farage should face highest penalty for serious breach of EP code of conduct
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The EU Parliament’s disciplinary body has recommended that Nigel Farage faces the “highest penalty” for a “serious breach” of its code of conduct, a leaked letter suggests.
The recommendation from the European Parliament’s Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members, revealed by Channel 4 News, also suggests referring the Brexit Party leader to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) for further investigation over claims about the sources of funding for his lifestyle.
n May, the Parliament opened an investigation into Farage after Channel 4 News reported that the British MEP had failed to declare gifts worth £450,000 from insurance tycoon Arron Banks, a co-founder of the Brexit campaign group Leave.EU.
Under Parliament rules, members have to declare gifts they have received “when representing Parliament in an official capacity,” and “such gifts are reported in the register of gifts.” Banks’ support for Farage reportedly included a car with a driver, trips to the United States and a lavish home in London’s swanky Chelsea neighborhood.
In the letter released Wednesday, the committee says it “considers that Mr Farage committed a serious breach of the Code of Conduct” and it believes “the seriousness of Mr Farage’s conduct would merit the highest penalty foreseen by the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.” It does not say what such a penalty would entail.
