Not holding EU elections saves £109m

THE UK will save £109million by not taking part in next year’s European elections, the Government said.

MEPS are due to be elected next May, after Brexit. In a written answer to a parliamentary question, the Government said: “We estimate that not holding European parliamentary elections will save British taxpayers at least £109million next year; this is in addition to the cost of the British contribution to the EU budget.”

The UK has 73 MEPS and elections take place every five years. Nigel Farage, the MEP and former Ukip leader, said: “I am very pleased we are saving £109million but what about the £37 billion the Government has agreed to pay as the ‘divorce bill’?

“And £109million is peanuts compared to the UK’S annual contribution to the EU of £11 billion.”

Catherine Bearder, the Lib Dem MEP for South-east England, said: “The savings will be tiny as we will already be running local elections in May 2019.”