Today in Strasbourg over 500 MEPs voted to reject the proposal agreed by the leaders of the 27 European countries to reduce the EU budget. But Conservative Members of the Parliament from the East of England voted for reductions. Local MEP Vicky Ford said: "People are fed up with this parliament which seems to believe that the budget is some sort of money tree. It cannot keep growing and growing. I want a root and branch review, examining every single aspect of spending and making sure that international money is only spent where international collaboration really adds value, like science and research. Spending money at European level is often an extraordinarily expensive way of delivering services. And when our national and local budgets are under so much pressure we must focus on getting the best value for every penny and every Euro. For this parliament to try to unravel the deal negotiated by 27 leaders is arrogant and irresponsible beyond belief."