A European parliament vote confirming the immediate repayment of £630 million to the UK has been welcomed by Conservative MEPs.
The technical adjustment under the Draft Amending Budget process will be followed next year by a separate rebate payment to the UK.
However, UKIP today abstained in a vote to expedite the adoption of the parliamentary report, which will allow the £630 million to be returned to the Treasury by December 1.
Conservative Budgets Spokesman Richard Ashworth, MEP for the South East, said UKIP’s stance was not unexpected, given its poor past record in scrutinising parliamentary business.
“I’m not surprised at all,” he said. “Too often UKIP votes against or abstains on proposals without actually looking at the content. They just see EU and oppose.”
