UKIP defends Gordon Brown from Commission attacks

Gordon Brown today received support from an unexpected quarter, when UKIP's MEP John Whittaker called European Commission accusations against the Chancellor a "farce".

[ClickPress, Thu Jan 12 2006] Gordon Brown today received support from an unexpected quarter, when UKIP's MEP John Whittaker called European Commission accusations against the Chancellor a "farce".

He said: "I do not usually seek to defend Chancellor Brown but it is farcical that the Commission should be pointing its finger at Britain".

The Commission's complaint is that Britain's budget deficit remains above 3 per cent of GDP, contrary to Stability Pact rules that are designed to underpin the single currency. However, Britain is not a member of the single currency and, although we are obliged to obey the rules, there are no sanctions if we do not.

Dr. Whittaker, an economist at Lancaster University, added: "Half the countries in the Eurozone are currently breaking the rules of the Pact, even in its newly watered-down form, and this is raising serious questions about the sustainability of the currency. The Commission has been complaining ineffectively about this for some time, but it makes no sense to criticise Britain because our budget behaviour has no relevance for the euro."

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