StatCounter

Wednesday 10 June 2009

Can Gordon Brown organise anything?

I read that:
"Glenys Kinnock's appointment as Europe minister descended into farce yesterday after it emerged that she could not do the job because she was still an MEP.

Under EU Parliament rules, Mrs Kinnock is not allowed to serve as a minister in a national Government until she steps down as an MEP on July 14.

Days after accepting Gordon Brown's surprise invitation to join his Government, Mrs Kinnock was forced to admit she was a mere 'acting minister'.

There was speculation in Westminster last night that Mrs Kinnock was reluctant to quit her job as an MEP as she would have to forgo some of her gold-plated pension and golden-goodbye.

The absurd situation is set to cause further embarrassment for Mr Brown as he fights for his political survival.

Downing Street sources last night insisted Mrs Kinnock had resigned as an MEP.

But a European Parliament spokesman said he had no knowledge of her quitting the post. 'We would normally get a formal notification if that had happened,' said the spokesman. 'But we haven't had one.' "

So some questions that Gordon Brown needs to answer:
Has Glenys Kinnock resigned as an MEP?
When did Glenys Kinnock resign as an MEP?
If she has resigned from what date does this resignation take effect?
Is the Prime Minister aware that EU pensions are paid on the understanding that the EU can remove this pension, if in the view of the Commission or the Luxembourg Court, the recipient "fail(s) to uphold the interests of the European Communities".?
Does Glenys Kinnock's EU pension affect her primary loyalty to the UK?

No comments: