LOCAL Euro MP Gary Titley is furious that his "gravy train" image is set to continue.

Despite his opposition, MEPs have voted to pay themselves a common salary of £73,000 a year and pay a special EU income tax rather than the one their constituents do.

This will give British MEPs a 30 per cent pay rise: currently they are paid the same as Westminster MPs, around £57,000.

The deal also means that members will have to justify their travel expenses with receipts: at the moment they can claim pocket allowances and keep the difference if these are more than what they actually spend.

However, the size of the increases, and the tax issue, means that some EU governments seem certain to block the proposal, which also grants MEPs extra protection from prosecution.

Mr Titley, Labour leader in Europe, said the European Parliament had made "a pig's ear" of reform. He blamed vested interests, whether from better-paid MEPs in Italy (who will take a wage cut) or poorer-paid ones in Greece who have traditionally made up their money from expenses.

"Member governments will not accept it, and we'll be back to square one," he said. "The Parliament has been really stupid about it and made a mess of it: it could be three or four years before it's looked at again.

"I am very frustrated: we have got to get this bloody expenses regime sorted out. Nothing is worse than working seven days a week and all people can talk about is expenses. It's demoralising at times, people thinking it's all a gravy train."

The Radcliffe-based MEP added: "You cannot be asking for people's votes without paying tax like they do. MEPs should pay tax in their nation states."

Mr Titley feared that the deal, with the next Euro elections to be held next year, would not make residents think any better of Europe.