BNP duo take seats as MEPs – and no-one wants to sit next to them

THE UK's two BNP MEPs began work in Strasbourg yesterday by describing Britain's Europe minister, Baroness Kinnock, as "a political prostitute" and being shunned by other parliamentarians who refused to sit next to them.

Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons, who are picking up an MEP's wage of 91,000 (78,000), were immediately ostracised by fellow British MEPs and Lady Kinnock, who has decided not to invite them to a reception for new parliamentarians.

BNP leader Nick Griffin said: "I would not want to share a drink with Glenys Kinnock. She is a political prostitute, simple as that. She and her husband started off their careers as anti-common market and now they are there not just with their noses in the trough, they are in the trough."

Earlier, Mr Griffin and Mr Brons had taken their seats in the 736-member European Parliament for the first time, situated just behind the UK Conservative group. Democratic Unionist MEP Diane Dods, who had been allocated a place next to them, refused to take her seat.

The Scotsman can reveal the UK Treasury has agreed to pay 31 million (26.5m) for MEPs' salaries this year, under a new European Union-wide wage structure, which has meant that British members are in line for a major pay rise.

Under the new structure, all MEPs are being paid the same sum in euros.