Last week ten deficit-denying Labour MEPs voted against a freeze in the EU’s budget. What is it that  could possibly make them want to defend the status quo? Well in the last year alone the the luddites have claimed £786,478.66 between them from the taxpayer. Even more infuriating is the fact that over a hundred grand of that went to the MEPs wives and families.

Michael Cashman who claimed £92,028.27 in expenses last year, Richard Howitt (£78,248.42), Stephen Hughes (£86,951.70), David Martin (£64,458.76), Arlene McCarthy (£88,168.31), Brian Simpson (£79,326.21), Peter Skinner (£78,082.73), Catherine Stihler (£64,324.39),  Derek Vaughan (£75,765.10) and Glenis Willmott (£75,765.10) all voted to keep the gravy train flowing. Given that half of them supported Red Ed, yet again the new leader is put in an awkward position by his party, his Shadow Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is in disagreement with them. Ed’s silence over Ken’s explosion worthy behaviour, the growing union stranglehold over his party and now the ongoing troughing behaviour of ten members of his thirteen strong European delegation, five of whom voted for him, adds to the mounting proof of what a lame duck leader Ed is turning out to be.