19/05/2010

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.

The director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, said: "Mr Illsley faces three charges under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 for false accounting.

"The first charge alleges that Mr Illsley dishonestly claimed expenses in relation to council tax, service and maintenance charges, repairs and insurance charges, and utilities and communications charges for his second home in Renfrew Road, London, between May 2005 and April 2006.

"The second charge relates to the same claims between May 2006 and April 2007, and the third charge relates to the same claims between May 2007 and April 2008.

"In total the charges allege a sum in excess of £20,000 was dishonestly claimed over this three year period."

Three former Labour MPs and a conservative peer have been charged under the Theft Act over their expenses claims, their cases were committed to Southwark crown court. Lawyers believe the cases raise issues of "high constitutional importance".

(GK/BMcC)

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