David Sumberg MEP
Date: 30/08/2002
Sumberg slams 'Spineless' Kinnock
North West Euro MP David Sumberg has slammed Neil Kinnock's decision to suspend the European Commission's former chief accountant Marta Andreasen.Earlier this month Ms Andreasen caused a furore by blowing the whistle on the EC's financial incompetence.
Mr Sumberg said: "I am appalled that Mr Kinnock has seen fit to punish Ms Andreasen by suspending her when he has not yet bothered to address the serious concerns she raised about the Commission's financial competence.
"When Mr Kinnock was reappointed in 1999 he promised to root out fraud and mismanagement - this came after the Commission's appalling treatment of another whistleblower, Paul van Buitenen.
"That Kinnock has chosen to respond to a whistleblower's criticism by suspending her is nothing short of spineless."Mr Sumberg said if the suspension had happened in Britain it would certainly be against the spirit, if not the letter, of the law.
"Mr Kinnock's mishandling of Ms Andreasen and her allegations raises serious questions about his commitment to honest government in the EU. He should explain his actions immediately and answer the questions raised by Ms Andreasen's allegations."
Go To Next Press Release 'Tories Fight Labour over Firing of EU Whistleblower' Back to Press Releases