Background: Public aghast at extravagance
The scandalous behaviour of MPs included attempts to use their Westminster expenses to clean a moat, service a tennis court and to even replace a duck house.
The public were aghast as details emerged of politicians' extravagance in the summer of 2009 and MPs became regarded as public enemy number one.
A report by Sir Thomas Legg recommended that 389 MPs should repay a total of 1.3 million. Scotland Yard launched an investigation into claims of fraud.
It was an inquiry that was to ultimately lead to Jim Devine's downfall yesterday.
Also charged were the Labour MPs Elliot Morley and David Chaytor, who has already been jailed for 18 months. The current Barnsley Central MP Eric Illsley joined him behind bars when he was imprisoned for a year yesterday. On the other side of the political divide, the Tory peers Lord Hanningfield and Lord Taylor were also charged. Lord Taylor is also facing jail after being found guilty of making 11,000 in false claims for travel and overnight subsistence.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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