Four to face criminal charges over expenses scandal

Published on Friday 5 February 2010 11:17

GORDON BROWN said he was angered by the news three Labour MPs will face criminal charges over their expense claims.

• From left, Jim Devine MP, David Chaytor MP, Elliott Morley MP and Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield

The Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC announced today that

Labour MPs Elliot Morley, David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield have been charged under the Theft Act.

The four are set to appear before City of Westminster Magistrates Court on March 11.

• Full list of charges facing Jim Devine, Lord Hanningfield, Elliot Morley and David Chaytor

MP for Livingston Jim Devine faces two charges under the Theft Act for false accounting.

Mr Morley faces two charges of dishonestly claiming expenses.

Labour backbencher David Chaytor faces three charges under the Theft Act for false accounting.

House of Lords peer Lord Hanningfield is to face six charges over allegations he dishonestly claimed expenses.

Visiting Exeter for a regional meeting of the Cabinet, Mr Brown told reporters: "I am very angry about what has happened.

"We took steps some months ago to remove the right of these people to stand as candidates for the Labour Party. These are very serious criminal allegations.

"All criminal allegations have got to be investigated. It's a matter now for the courts. We have got to get rid of that old politics, it cannot be part of the new system.

"That's why I put forward proposals not just to reform the MPs' expenses system but to reform the way that Parliament works and the link between Parliament and the people of this country."

Today's charges come after files were lodged with the Crown Prosecution Service in November and December on six members of the House of Commons and Lords in relation to abuses of the expenses system.

One further case is still being investigated while no charges will be brought against Lord Clarke of Hampstead due to insufficient evidence.

In a statement, the three Labour MPs said: "We are clearly extremely disappointed that the DPP has decided to instigate proceedings against us.

"We totally refute any charges that we have committed an offence and we will defend our position robustly."

Lord Hanningfield denied that allegations and said he planned to launch a "vigorous" defence.

"I totally refute the charges and will vigorously defend myself against them.

"I have never claimed more in expenses than I have spent in the course of my duties."

Sir Thomas Clegg yesterday released a damning report into MPs expenses which condemned the existing expenses system as "deeply flawed".

The former civil servant's audit found 390 MPs had filed excessive expense claims between 2004 and 2009 and should pay pack a total of 1.12 million.

Related

Labour MP Jim Devine vows to fight expenses allegations in court

Lord Hanningfield steps down from front bench House of Lords role in wake of expenses scandal

David Chaytor: Expenses claims were an 'accounting error'

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