Peer denies suggesting dodgy claim on expenses

A FORMER Tory peer accused of lying about his expenses was told by a fellow lord he would be "crazy" not to nominate a house outside London as his main address, a court has heard.

Lord Taylor of Warwick is accused of claiming for travel costs between a home in Oxford and the House of Lords in London, when he actually lived in the capital.

Another peer at the House of Lords, Lord Colwyn, gave evidence at his trial at Southwark Crown Court yesterday.

Mohammed Khamisa, QC, defending, told the jury Lord Colwyn had advised his friend to take full advantage of the expenses system. He asked the former dentist, who took a peerage in January 1967, if he remembered a dinner conversation between the men in which they discussed claiming a main residence outside of London.

Mr Khamisa said: "You sat next to Lord Taylor for a period of about three hours. You talked about jazz, which is a common interest.

"At that dinner there was a discussion about members' residences and designation."

Lord Colwyn said he did not remember the dinner, and that he attended many functions.

Mr Khamisa continued: "You advised him to designate an address, providing there was a family connection to the address."

The peer denied he said that, responding: "That's not something I would ever recommend."

It was disclosed on Tuesday that Lord Taylor had claimed he lived at an address in which his half nephew lives. The peer agrees he has never stayed at the property, and has no financial or legal interest in it.

The trial continues.