Ukip insists it uses public money 'entirely within the rules' after claims Brussels cash paid for party spin doctors in Britain



Whistleblower claims press office was funded using taxpayers' money

Suggests the arrangement was in place over several years

Ukip insists the use of money is 'entirely legitimate and within the rules'



Ukip leader Nigel Farage faces questions over the party's use of funds

The UK Independence Party is to face an investigation into whether it has used taxpayers money to fund party political work.

It follows claims that spin doctors in Britain were paid using public money from Brussels.

The party today insisted the use of funds was ‘entirely legitimate and within the rules’.

The row centres on public money received by Ukip as part of the right-wing Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) grouping in the European Parliament.

The money, which ultimately comes from taxpayers across Europe, is not supposed to be used to fund political parties at an EU or national level.

But The Times said it had seen evidence that some members of Ukip's London staff were paid directly from EU funds in 2012 and 2013.

A former member of the Ukip press office in London told the newspaper: ‘I was paid by the EFD group in the European Parliament, even though I worked exclusively for Ukip in the UK. The money was paid into my bank account directly from the EFD Group.’

The whistleblower said three other people were paid in this way, and the press office had been funded in this way for several years.

Lib Dem MEP Edward McMillan-Scott. a former Tory leader in Brussels who is a vice-president of the European Parliament said: ‘“This appears to be a misuse of funds, which would be improper.

‘I will raise this with the Bureau and ask the relevant authorities to look into it.

‘On the face of it, it looks as though this contravenes the rules of the European Parliament. This is taxpayer’s money and should not be diverted to political parties, in the UK or anywhere else.’

However a Ukip spokesman insisted however that the party had ‘always worked hard to ensure that demarcations between EFD employees and party employees are properly observed’ and defended its actions.

He added: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, Ukip MEPs are careful to observe European parliamentary rules when spending resources on advancing the goal of British withdrawal.’

Public funds from the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) grouping in the European Parliament should not be used for party political purposes

Attacking what it said was a pre-European election ‘smear campaign’ in response to its rapid rise in popularity, he added: ‘Ukip has from the outset been the biggest constituent part of the EFD group and Nigel Farage is the group leader.

‘It is wholly legitimate and within the rules for some EFD staff to work out of London and indeed staff from other groups that include other British political parties do the same.