MEPs jump off 'ridiculous and corrupt' gravy train

Disenchanted with their gravy train image, and lured by national politics, some of the youngest and brightest MEPs are voting with their feet and quitting the European Parliament.

Although the next European elections are not due until 2004, a cluster of high-profile, talented and reform-minded MEPs have already declared that they will not stand again.

Instead most are going to pursue careers in national politics in a move which will break up a caucus of bright members who want change.

Some of the criticisms of the parliament have been scathing. Simon Murphy, the former leader of Labour's MEPs – who says he is leaving because the position is incompatible with family life – wrote last week in E!Sharp magazine that the parliament can not only be "very short-sighted and immature" but also "naive, hypocritical, corrupt and remote". Mr Murphy damned the €160m (£100m) a year travel bill for commuting between Brussels and Strasbourg – the parliament's two sites – as "ridiculous and unsustainable", and the current expenses regime as "outrageously generous and unjustifiable".

Members complain of being in perpetual motion as they travel between Brussels, Strasbourg and their constituencies, of struggling to connect with voters, and of a lack of recognition. Nick Clegg, a Liberal Democrat MEP who will pursue a career in national politics, said: "The personal cost of travel is much greater than I imagined. There is a problem for MEPs from Britain, and other reform-minded countries, who tend to regard the EU through the lens of it being up to no good. That does have a grinding-down effect." Around the parliament almost all MEPs agree they have to travel too much. One tells how he missed the birth of his daughter and another of how his wife stuck his photo on the fridge, saying: "It's to remind the children what you look like."

But in some respects the brain drain is surprising because the parliament has never had more power. MEPs have more legislative clout, better working conditions and more freedom to speak out than backbench MPs in Britain.

Just 18 months ago, Time magazine profiled Mr Clegg and two other young MEPs as examples of a new exciting breed of Europolitician: thirtysomething, ambitious, cosmopolitan, media-savvy and above all passionate about Europe's political future.

This outspoken trio clubbed together to try to save taxpayers millions by campaigning for reform of MEPs' pay and perks, and for a single headquarters for the parliament which commutes between its buildings in the French and Belgian cities. "If you're young and want to change things, you should follow the power – and power is shifting toward Brussels," Lousewies van der Laan, a 36-year-old Dutch MEP, told the magazine at the time.

Now Ms van der Laan is preparing to return to the Netherlands to stand in January's general elections and, if as is likely she is elected, will resign her seat at Strasbourg. She argued last week that it is "important for MEPs to get in touch with direct politics because we are at a distance". Michiel van Hulten, the third of the "young Turks" as Time called the group, is also expected to stand down. With the departure of the Dutch socialist, Strasbourg will be losing another prominent advocate of reform.

Likewise Heidi Hautala, the prominent Finnish Green MEP will concentrate on domestic politics, as will Helle Thorning-Schmidt, a well-known Danish socialist MEP who is the daughter-in-law of Neil and Glenys Kinnock.

One official said: "They were seen as the new breath of air in the new intake, and the core of the reform group is going."

The campaign for the parliament to have one site has made no headway and this month MEPs passed up the chance to reform a legendary expenses regime under which travel receipts do not have to be produced.

Some officials in the parliament believe that the real problem is the institution's lack of profile. "A lot of politicians have big egos," said one official, "and while MEPs are swarmed around by lobbyists, their egos generally do not get fed in Brussels and Strasbourg. You don't get street recognition or media recognition as an MEP in the way that you do as an MP."

Seasoned observers also point out that there has always been a turnover of about 50 per cent of MEPs at each European election – a much higher rate than in national parliaments.

David Harley, spokesman for the parliament, said: "It is difficult to understand why there may be able and effective members leaving just at the time when the European Parliament has more powers and when, as most people acknowledge, they can influence legislation more easily from here than as a backbencher in national parliaments."

But some see a positive trend. "The European Parliament used to be seen as a retirement home for national politicians put out to grass" said one official. "Perhaps it's now becoming a training ground instead."