SIR, — Anyone fuming about the expenses claims of our MPs should bear in mind that a report on improper expenses claims by MEPs was suppressed by the European Commission. The money filched by Euro-MPs is estimated at over �100 million in recent years. No

SIR, - Anyone fuming about the expenses claims of our MPs should bear in mind that a report on improper expenses claims by MEPs was suppressed by the European Commission. The money filched by Euro-MPs is estimated at over �100 million in recent years.

No wonder the EU is so popular with the political classes and is detested by taxpayers. The European Parliament is similar to the old Soviet parliament. The appointment of candidates is the prerogative of party bosses, at best. At worse, in Southern Italy, candidates are nominated by the Mafia.

In these days of crumbling hospitals and overflowing schools it is time to pull the plug on this useless racket. Labour once claimed that so doing would put three million UK jobs at risk. With the bursting of Gordon Brown's recklessly inflated financial bubble we will soon have three million unemployed anyway.

RICHARD DURRANT,

Park Avenue,

St Albans.