Thanet MP Roger Gale has spoken strongly against what he perceives as an unjust divide between those from other parts of the UK who have never paid taxes in the UK and yet claim benefits and those that have paid taxes their entire lives but now live outside of the UK and do not get such simple help.

Do we look after our own? asks Gale It appears that we do not. In spite of the best efforts of Members on both sides of the House of Commons to secure, for our constituents, the help that they need the government has to date sought to wriggle free of the European Court finding that the relevant benefits are exportable and should be paid to UK citizens living elsewhere within the European Union or in Switzerland.

Mentioning the upcoming elections of MEPs Gale says I think that it is therefore not unreasonable ask why it is that while those who have paid their dues in England are being denied benefits because they are living in France or Spain or Greece, it is perfectly in order for EU citizens from the "new Europe" outside the United Kingdom, who have not paid a lifetimes taxes in Britain, to come to work here, claim family tax benefits and send that money back to support families that are not living in the UK but in another EU state. It is an equation that the ex-pat community, which has the right to vote in June and will most assuredly be casting those votes to elect UK MEPs, does not comprehend. And neither do I !

What are your feelings on the subject?