THE Euro MP for the north west, Den Dover, has been ousted as Tory group chief whip.

It follows a row about expenses.

The former MP for Chorley employed his wife and daughter to provide secretarial and support services through an outside company.

It has been reported that they were paid more than £750,000.

MEP Mr Dover insists he has done nothing wrong and has defended the move saying it was well within the rules and regulations of the European Parliament.

A Tory party spokesman said Mr Dover had been 'replaced'.

Asked if he had resigned or been sacked the spokesman said: “He's been replaced.”

Appointment

The new acting leader of the Tory MEPs, Philip Bushill-Matthews, has said announced south-east MEP Richard Ashworth is the as new Tory group chief whip, replacing Mr Dover.

There are calls today for all Euro MPs have been usged to sign an expenses *code of conduct'.

Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies, who has campaigned against sleaze in Brussels, is urging party leaders to draw up an agreement to prevent the misuse of public money.

Mr Davies says the resignation of Giles Chichester, the Tory leader in Brussels, after admitting he broke expenses rules, highlighted a the need for change.

He wants the British political parties to negotiate anand agreement that will lay stress on financial transparency and an annual independent audit of MEPs' accounts.

Reform

Mr Davies said: “We may not be able to bring about reform of all European Parliament procedures but at least we can give an assurance to assure British voters that the representatives they elect will set high standards of financial probity.”

Mr Davies also said: “I doubt that Den Dover has broken any parliamentary rules but this simply highlights the fact that there is something very wrong with the rules.” 

Earlier this year he revealed the contents of a secret auditors' report detailing the misuse of public money by some MEPs.

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