12/01/2011

'Expenses MP' To Stand Down

Eric Illsley has quit as an MP after pleading guilty on Tuesday to dishonestly claiming parliamentary expenses.

Mr Illsley, 55, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to three false accounting charges over claims for council tax, maintenance, repairs and utility bills for his second home at Southwark Crown Court.

The MP for Barnsley Central had come under pressure to step down after he admitted fraudulently claiming more than £14,000 in parliamentary expenses.

Labour leader Ed Miliband was among those to urge Illsley to stand down.

Illsley apologised to his constituents, and said he "deeply regretted" his actions.

In a statement issued by his office, Illsley said: "I would like to apologise to my constituents, family and friends, following my court appearance, for the distress and embarrassment caused by my actions that I deeply, deeply regret.

"I have begun to wind down my parliamentary office, following which I will resign from Parliament before my next court appearance.

"I will be making no further comment."

Illsley's decision will trigger a by-election in the Barnsley Central constituency.

It is believed he will stand down before he is sentenced at Southwark Crown Court next month.

(BMcN/GK)

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

11 January 2011
MP Admits False Accounting
The Metropolitan Police welcomed today's guilty pleas that follow a thorough and detailed investigation of Eric Illsley's parliamentary claims whilst a Member of Parliament for Barnsley Central.
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.
31 May 2011
Lord Taylor Jailed Over Expenses Fraud
An ex-Tory peer has been jailed for a year over falsely claiming parliamentary expenses. Lord Taylor of Warwick claimed £11,277 for travel between his Oxford home and Westminster and for accommodation costs in London.
15 February 2013
IPSA To Investigate Dorries Expenses Claims
Expenses claims submitted by MP Nadine Dorries will be investigated by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). The MP for faces an inquiry into her spending on accommodation and travel, with IPSA saying it had reason to believe she had received expenses "that should not have been allowed".
31 May 2013
Conservative MP Patrick Mercer Quits Over BBC Panorama Programme
A Conservative MP has resigned from the party follwing a BBC Panorama programme alleging he broke parliamentary rules over lobbying. Mr Patrick Merecer will step down as MP for Newark at the general election in 2015. Mr Mercer said: “Panorama are planning to broadcast a programme alleging that I have broken Parliamentary rules.