One of the perils of state funding of politics

The anti-fraud inquiries focused on two groups, both created in late 2014. The first was the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE), a pan-European political party based in Brussels and composed of Eurosceptic MEPs. Its director was Roger Helmer, a Ukip representative who later resigned his seat amid a separate inquiry into misuse of public funds, while the majority of its members belonged to Ukip, including Farage himself. Eurosceptics from France, Italy and Germany were also members.

It was eligible for public EU funds and successfully applied for €1.2 million — the maximum amount available — in its first year, using the money on assorted costs including restaurants, taxis and “consultancy” bills.

Now, wholly true, I know none of the details here. But think about incentives just for a moment. You’ve a bureaucracy, the bureaucracy gets to give money to the politics which funds the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy is going to be right pissed at having to give money to the politics which would like to defund, abolish, the bureaucracy.

State funding will lead to – inevitably – th exclusion of those who would rock the establishment boat.