Giles Chichester became the Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament in 2007, winning the leadership election against his predecessor Timothy Kirkhope by a single vote. However, he was compelled to resign in June 2008 following allegations relating to his expenses as an MEP. An investigation by the European Parliament subsequently cleared him of any wrongdoing. Chichester remained an MEP until the 2014 European Elections, when he stood down.