Good news for the bureaucratic class

(Via Samizdata) Euro-MPs get 30pc rise with no loss of perks.

Pay for British MEPs is to jump from £55,000 to £72,000 overnight, severing the link with their Westminster colleagues for the first time.

But here's the part I like:

Each MEP receives a tax-free £108,000 a year for staff expenses - used by almost half the British delegation to pay spouses, children and immediate kin, often doubling the family income.

A further £32,000 is wired into their accounts annually for "general expenses". Earmarked for paperclips, stamps, and such, it is in reality an extra bonus since the European Parliament's twin sites in Brussels and Strasbourg already provide free offices and computers.

MEPs also receive an attendance fee of £185 a day for showing up. Many amass £925 a week extra in cash.

An attendance fee? How swank! I wonder what the base salary is for then? Their inner beauty?

I can't wait until the United Nations gets around to proposing a "World Parliament."

UPDATE: The odd symbols are for UK pounds. Blogger seems to be having problems with them today.