Swimming lessons urgently needed in Brussels

Swimming lessons are urgently required in Brussels, where our MEPs appear to be drowning in their own excess. Luckily, MEPs have just approved a new nine million Euro swimming pool for themselves to practice in.

Gerard Onesta, the French MEP who proposed the centre claimed that "It is not a swimming pool. It is an aqua gym." 

Libertas has issued a statement condemning the move:

“At a time of economic crisis and rising unemployment it is an outrage that MEPs should vote to spend taxpayers’ money in this way. It shows how out of touch and unaccountable current MEPs are” said Libertas Chairman, Declan Ganley.

The issue was also covered in the Telegraph by Bruno Waterfield, where there is a priceless quote at the end:

Senior MEPs discussed plans for the new fitness facilities on Wednesday night after they were tabled by Gerard Onesta, a French Green and vice president of the parliament.

Mr Onesta insisted that the new gym would have "nothing to do with luxury" and that the facilities would save money by cutting staff absenteeism by up to 30 per cent.

They are paying nine million euros to reduce 'absenteeism'? In the real world, outside the Ivory Towers in Brussels, if employees aren't turning up to work they don't get a new swimming pool, they get the sack. 

Isn't it time we brought an end to this kind of gross mismanagement of our money and institutions?