MPs may keep claims cash

JIM Devine and three other MPs convicted of fiddling their expenses may never pay back tens of thousands of pounds in questionable claims.

The Commons authorities have said they may lack the powers to claw back money owed for claims which broke the rules of the house, but were not deemed criminal.

The expenses claims of the four former MPs totalled nearly 2 million. It is thought they would be required to repay the 75,000 on which they were convicted of defrauding the taxpayer but probably no more.

Director general of resources at the Commons Andrew Walker said that it would not be "practical" to recover the money.