05/02/2010

Four Charged Over Expenses

Three MPs and one lord are to face criminal charges over their parliamentary expenses, it was confirmed today.

Labour parliamentarians Elliot Morley, Jim Devine and David Chaytor will face charges under the Theft Act, as will Tory peer Lord Hanningfield.

In a joint statement the MPs said they refuted any charges and would "defend our position robustly".

Labour peer Lord Clarke will not be charged but a sixth case remains under police investigation.

Detectives have probed several politicians over Westminster expenses claims following a public furore over their publication last year.

Director of the Crown Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer this morning said there was "sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges" against the four members identified.

"Accordingly, summonses in these cases have been obtained from the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court and will now be served on the individuals in question," he said.

Scunthorpe MP Elliot Morley, a former government minister, will be charged in relation to more than £16,000 of mortgage interest claims on a property in Winterton, Lincolnshire between 2004 to 2007.

Livingstone parliamentarian Jim Devine faces allegations of "dishonestly claiming" money for cleaning services and for stationery using false invoices.

David Chaytor, MP for Bury North, is accused of "dishonestly claiming" £1,950 for IT services and further sums of £12,925 and £5,425 relating to rent on properties in London and Lancashire.

Lord Hanningfield, formally Paul White, will be charged with "dishonestly" submitting claims "for expenses to which he knew he was not entitled". This is alleged to have included overnight stays in London.

All four are expected to appear in court on 11 March.

(PR/BMcC)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

08 April 2014
Shrien Dewani Extradited To South Africa
British man Shrien Dewani, 34, suspected of arranging the murder of his 28-year-old wife on their honeymoon has arrived in South Africa to face trial after a three-year legal battle against extradition due to his mental health problems.
11 March 2010
Expenses Accused Deny Charges
Four Parliamentarians have denied criminal charges relating to their expenses claims. Labour MPs Jim Devine, Elliot Morley, David Chaytor appeared in court today, alongside Tory peer Lord Hanningfield, accused of false accounting. The four men were given unconditional bail and are due to appear again at Southwark Crown Court on 30 March.
09 March 2010
Labour Lord To 'Give Up' Non-Dom Status
Lord Paul - a top Labour donor - will renounce his non domicile tax status in April, he said today. The peer said his 'non-dom' UK residency will end in the new tax year. The move follows revelations over billionaire Tory deputy chair Lord Ashcroft.
19 January 2015
Mobile Customers To Share £1m Refund
Mobile provide EE is to refund around £1m to a number of customers wrongly charged VAT between October 2012 and October 2014. It is understood that EE customers who travelled outside the EU during those dates and used internet data were affected by the charges. The company estimated it as being about 0.5% of its customers.
19 May 2010
Labour MP Charged Over Expenses
A Labour MP is facing parliamentary expenses charges. Barnsley Central MP Eric Illsley has been charged with three offences of false accounting for dishonestly claiming council tax and other household bills on his second home in London. He will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on 17 June.