MARK Starr (You Say, Thursday, May 13) highlighted just one of the votes of myself and others, stating that only UKIP supported one particular resolution on the issue of the flawed EU accounts. This is most misleading.

It is true that Conservative MEPs deliberately abstained on the formal vote of censuring the European Commission.

We knew the majority of MEPs from other countries would oppose it, and that the Commission would therefore win if the issue was put to the vote in that form.

That is exactly what happened, which is why the motion should never have been worded that way in the first place.

Instead, Conservative MEPs initiated a completely different vote that Mark Starr conspicuously failed to mention.

Crystal clear

This made crystal clear that the Commission had failed to accept any responsibility for the problems, and that Parliament would fulfil its role with vigour in securing reform.

Thanks entirely to our influence and our pressure this vote was won with a significant majority. The Commission is now under formal notice.

We are very proud that UK Conservative MEPs continue to take the lead not only in attacking waste and maladministration in the Commission, but also in persuading colleagues across other Member States to join us to drive change.

If other UK parties were to do the same - instead of spending their energies writing deliberately distorting letters - we would make greater progress more quickly.

PHILIP BUSHILL-MATTHEWS (MEP),

Conservative office, Sansome Place, Worcester.