Work harder, Clegg to tell Farage

5 March 2014 Last updated at 01:36

Nick Clegg tells Nigel Farage to work harder in Europe

Nick Clegg is to accuse UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage and his colleagues in the European Parliament of failing to "stand up for Britain".

In a speech on the EU's role later, Mr Clegg will say Mr Farage "rarely" turns up to vote in Brussels and should "get down to work".

The comments come after the two leaders agreed to hold a TV debate.

UKIP said it alone had prevented the UK from "sleepwalking" into giving away more sovereignty.

Mr Clegg's Liberal Democrats are seen as the most pro-European of the main parties at Westminster, while Mr Farage's UKIP advocates withdrawing from the EU.

They have been involved in a growing spat over the issue, ahead of May's European elections.

Last month, Mr Farage accepted Mr Clegg's invitation to a televised "open debate" on whether the UK should stay in the EU.

'Roll up sleeves'

In a speech to the Centre for European Reform think tank later, the deputy prime minister will launch an attack on his rival, saying: "Nigel Farage and deputy leader Paul Nuttall rarely turn up to vote in the European Parliament, despite being happy to take their taxpayer-funded salaries.

"UKIP MEPs refuse to roll up their sleeves and get down to work. Nigel Farage hasn't tabled a single amendment to EU legislation since July 2009."

But Mr Clegg, himself a former MEP, will acknowledge a need for some reform, saying: "Where the EU has become intrusive, it needs to be pushed back.

"We want to keep the UK opted out of rules we believe are damaging, like the 48-hour cap on the working week in the Working Time Directive.

"Working with our allies, the UK is already taking action to cut excessive EU red tape, saving thousands of pounds for thousands of small business across Britain."

UKIP said its campaigning had ensured the UK would not "sleepwalk into losing every last ounce of sovereignty".

A spokesman added that it was pointless sitting on "spurious committees [within the European Parliament], passing more and more powers to the EU".