Thread by @JamesCrisp6

NEW: Nigel Farage has been given 24 hours to come to Brussels and explain himself over 450k pounds of allegedly undeclared gift from Arron Banks or face being banned from the European Parliament.
1/

European Parliament code of conduct committee have met and set the deadline, which is less than the usual week accorded to errant MEPs. This is explained away as being because of the short time left in current parliament term.
2/

Nigel was reported after it was noticed he had not declared Banks gifts such as chaffeured car on register. EP says he must be in Brussels at 5pm local time to explain
3/

He will have opportunity to promise to update register, which could mitigate punishment. But is clear conduct committee will find he broke the rules.
4

As for punishment that is up to @EP_President , Antonio Tajani
.
The committee merely establishes facts, not punishment.

Nigel faces fines and a ban of up to a month from the European Parliament

5/

He could also have his badge withdrawn, meaning he won't be allowed into the parliament in either Strasbourg or Brussels. This would be a particularly Draconian and unprecedented measure.
6/

notification of the summons for the formal hearing has been sent to farage's office in Brussels. We will see tomorrow if he turns up.
7/

Given EP has already clawed back funds it says were misspent from Nigel/ Ukip. I would be surprised if he bothers.
Allies in the parliament have long muttered about vengeful witch hunt against them since Brexit.
8/

But if @Nigel_Farage is banned and is prevented from leading @brexitparty_uk many many new MEPs into the European Parliament in July for the first time .. that would be quite something. No barnstorming victory speech, no moment of triumph...

9/

But if Nigel becomes the first ever MEP to be punished like this, hard to see how European Parliament escapes accusations it wants to make an example of him.

10/

Ends

Spokesman for Farage's group in European Parliament says Nigel is already in Brussels. Unclear at this stage if he will turn up. Makes the point that a ban would be anti-democratic ...

11/

Says senior figures in EP claim hundreds of thousands in taxpayers cash for constituency offices in grounds of their homes.

"Is the abuse of public money by Europhile Meps better than allegedly accepting private donations? Is that value for money? I think not," he adds

12.

Here is the scoop:
Nigel Farage faces European Parliament ban over alleged gifts from Brexiteer Arron Banks telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/… via @Telegraph

Nigel Farage'“What is this but an EU kangaroo court where I am given 24 hours notice about allegations picked up from press stories. I will not be attending at such short notice.

PS1

And if they try to bar me from the building, who else gives voice to the 1000s of ppl who voted for me? Is this democracy EU style?
I didn' receive any private money for political purposes. This committee wd better spend time investigating waste of public money by well-known MEPs

Finally on EU Parl ban - can be up to 30 days but does not affect right to vote.
..
.

But talk is that the withdrawal of the badge, a practical step that could make life very difficult, could be used for the first time. It isn't on the list of sanctions now but idea was recently gaining ground and EP Pres could use it.

This has since been denied by European Parliament who insist that a MEP rules on mandate is purely national rules and not EU rules. (See Carles Puigdemont issue ). She stresses that no time to get revocation of badge onto rulebook and that legally not possible.