Expenses row looms over Euro poll

MEPs divide their time between Strasbourg, above, and Brussels

Political parties in Wales are urging voters not to be put off by the controversy over MPs' expenses as European election campaigning steps up.

They have warned of a loss of trust amid nervousness that turnout will be hit on polling day, 4 June.

They fear that while major issues affecting Wales are at stake, they could be overshadowed by the House of Commons expenses row.

Previous UK turnout in these elections has been among the lowest in Europe.

Labour says the continuing revelations about expenses make it more of a challenge to get its message across.

Rhodri Morgan, who leads both Welsh Labour and the Welsh Assembly Government, said: "The very real danger is that what should be the ephemera of politics becomes the new reality because of the daily reporting of expenses.

"The challenge we face is to get our message through that the European elections matter because of the enormous investment that Europe has made in Wales."

UK TURNOUT IN EU ELECTIONS 1979: 32.7% 1984: 32.9% 1989: 36.8% 1999: 24% 2004: 38.5% Source: European Parliament

Plaid Cymru wants the focus of its campaign to be the record of its MEP Jill Evans, and the party pledges to fight for better transport and internet links for Wales.

"The system of expenses in Westminster has been exposed as outdated and has clearly meant a significant loss of public trust in politics," said Adam Price MP, Plaid's director of campaigns.

For Conservatives too, the expenses row has hit the reputation of politicians.

The Tories say they hope voters will respond to pledges from their MEPs to publish their expenses.

"The last few days have been deeply damaging for politicians of all parties," said a spokesperson.

"And that's why all Conservative MEPs have pledged to provide full transparency of their expenditure."

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Welsh Liberal Democrats say the effect of the expenses controversy on public trust in politics is also a major concern.

"The events of the past few weeks have further weakened trust in politics," said a spokesperson.

"A low turnout will let the worst offenders off the hook."

There are 11 parties in Wales fighting to win four seats, which are awarded by proportional representation.

Each Welsh MEP represents the whole of Wales, and five years ago Labour won two seats, and Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives one each. Three of those MEPs are standing down at this election.

As well as Labour, Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and Liberal Democrats, voters in Wales can choose between the British National Party, Welsh Christian Party, Jury Team, No2EU: Yes to Democracy, Green Party, Socialist Labour Party, and United Kingdom Independence Party.

UK turnout in European elections has been consistently among the lowest of any EU country.

It slumped to just 24% in 1999. In the last election, UK turnout rose to its highest level, 38.5%, but probably only because in four English regions votes had to be cast by post.

However, turnout in Wales still tends to be slightly higher than the UK average, hitting 42% in 2004, the highest since the first election in 1979.

Central issues for the campaign remain environmental concerns, improving transport and internet links and European funding to help beat the recession in Wales.