Scots MEP cleared after investigation

By Paul Hutcheon Scottish Political Editor A SCOTTISH Tory MEP at the centre of an expenses probe has been cleared by the European parliamentary authorities. John Purvis, under investigation for ploughing thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money into a firm of which he was a partner, has been told that "no material conflict of interest" arose from his financial affairs. However, the 70-year-old Conservative politician has since withdrawn from the partnership and stopped paying public money into the firm. MEPs in the UK have run into trouble recently following scrutiny of travel and staffing expenses. The biggest controversy has been the practice of MEPs channelling taxpayers' money into firms in which they have a financial stake. Purvis, who is not seeking re-election next year, paid up to £120,000 in the past 12 months to a... [read full story]