Martyrdom missed
STUDENTS of the boondoggle culture have been been watching the Solomon Islands to see whether Glenys Kinnock got eaten. As a member of the European Par- liament she was there on an official visit, only to find a coup d'etat in progress. Marooned on her island, she had to settle for telling both sides what to do, which might well have provoked her hosts into resuming their old habits. Now, by escap- ing to Papua New Guinea, she has missed her chance of martyrdom. Not content to perform their parliamentary duties on their pay (with an 18 per cent rise in prospect) and their host of helpful allowances, MEPs like her volunteer for these overseas mis- sions, involving first-class air travel to remote Pacific islands, regardless of per- sonal risk. In the same spirit her husband, Neil, visits the better restaurants of Tus- cany in his official car. He is vice-president of the European Commission, where he is in charge of promoting reform.
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