I HAD to smile at Ms Girling MEP’s letter about the EU budget and the fact that a 2.9 per cent increase was a result of the Conservative stand when we know that simply is not the case.

However perhaps she would like to say whether she agreed with the EU Parliament voting itself a substantial pay rise and increased hospitality allowances in this time of austerity, and remind the British public that the only UK group of MEPs who voted against the rise was the UKIP.

Will she be donating her rise to a charity, a sector that is much in need of cash, excepting of course under EU rules she has to take the cash.

ROBERT FEAL-MARTINEZ Head of Media UKIP Swindon