EU Wastes Billions on Scandalous Grants

Most opponents of the EU cite the huge sums of cash it wastes as a principal reason why Britain would be 'better off out', as the slogan goes.

Well, earlier this week the Taxpayers' Alliance did some investigative work. They found that the EU awards Britain quite substantial sums of money each year in grants. Clearly, this is not anywhere near as much as the amount we pay for the privilege of membership, but it still adds up - in 2007 Britain was awarded £4.3 billion.

The problem is that much of this money was ear-marked for 'cultural' usage or EU propaganda.

The 'Centerprise Trust', based in London, was awarded £136,678 to 'celebrate people of African descent'. I suppose it is best not to ask why, if this organisation is so fond of Africa and its ways, it chooses to base itself in London.

Oxford University spent tens of thousands of grant money on a programme which was set up to 'understand the difference between religious traditions, as well as defining God'.

Is it likely that something which has occupied the finest minds since time began can be solved with a little bit of taxpayers' cash?

Worst of all was the £68,000 spent on items designed to be given away free to promote the EU - many of them to schoolchildren.

These included pencils, clocks, mouse mats, stickers, bags, rulers and key rings. Most were given away by EU officials on school visits. A further £460,000 was spent on 'media training' for EU officials.

All this from an organisation which is hideously opaque and undemocratic, and has not been able to sign off its own accounts for at least ten years.

The sooner Britain is free from this monstrosity and able to be sovereign in its own affairs, the better.