All eyes on Parliament

Date: 21/11/1996

The European Parliament has finally made the grade. It has achieved maturity with honours, and can now take its place alongside royalty, rock stars and wayward tycoons at the top table of life's celebrity banquet.

Just what has the Parliament done to reach that pinnacle? It has had a telephoto lens or two pointed at it - and flattery comes no higher than that.

Two MEPs have registered complaints that the paparazzi have deserted the high-living grazing grounds of princesses and playboys to come hunting for rich pickings in places where MEPs drink from the well.

It is not apparent which of Europe's glossies would welcome snaps of elected representatives putting down motions for resolution, but the recent television documentary on Euro-expenses and how to spend them has doubtless spurred on those whose livelihoods are based on exposing the foibles of others.

British Labour MEPs David Hallam and Veronica Hardstaff have demanded action from Parliament President Klaus Hänsch after finding photographers and super-long-range lenses taking shots of the inside of one member's office.

Hänsch has explained that, in principle, the taking of pictures inside the Parliament's buildings is allowed, with the exception of its restaurants.

One cheeky official explained that this was probably because of fears that photos of alleged fat cats stuffing their faces from the allegedly groaning buffets of caviare and vats of champagne might offend the electorate, while good-old alleged expenses-fiddling was considered much more acceptable...