the discredited gay conversion therapy, comparing it to sex-changes and homeopathy. He later told The Independent that his views had been misrepresented by the paper's editor. Use of massage parlour In October 2014, Helmer was photographed visiting a "sleazy massage parlour" in Lutterworth. He told The Sun "MEPs are entitled to a private life. I work extremely hard and when I do occasionally have time off I enjoy a massage." The following day he confirmed the story, telling the Derby Telegraph that "I think The Sun quoted me quite well and I don't have anything to add to that. Expenses Helmer was criticised in an article in the Daily Telegraph on 10 February 2010 regarding MEPs' pensions. The article by Bruno Waterfield criticised an attempt by Helmer and other Conservative MEPs to water down attempts to overhaul their expenses arrangements. Helmer replied, in a letter to the Daily Telegraph printed on 13 February 2010, that accusations relating to protecting his pension rights, protecting his anonymity and seeking further public funding for pension contributions were false. Following these accusations, Helmer made his MEP allowances available to view online. According to a June 2014 Guardian article, all three main UK parties expect their MEPs to provide an independent audit to verify expenses though this is not an EU requirement. The NHS In August 2009, whilst a Conservative MEP, Helmer supported his fellow MEP Daniel Hannan's criticism of the NHS -described as a "60-year mistake". Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, Helmer stated that: "I think Dan has done us a service by raising these issues which need to be looked at. If 80% of Americans are getting better health care than we are in the UK then we ought to ask why, and we ought to ask how are we going to deliver equally good results." The attacks by Helmer and Hannan led Conservative leader David Cameron to release a statement to the BBC saying: "The Conservative Party stands four square behind the NHS". The environment In April 2004, whilst a Conservative MEP, Helmer was criticised by Friends of the Earth for his voting record on environmental issues, voting in what they claimed was an environmentally friendly manner in only one out of ten possible "eco-friendly" votes. In a letter to the Leicester Mercury on 16 November 2009, Helmer accused the Church of England of having "abandoned religious faith entirely and