Devine's legal aid slammed

LIVINGSTON Labour candidate Graeme Morrice has joined the chorus of criticism over the decision to give legal aid to Jim Devine, the town's former MP, and two other Labour politicians accused of fiddling their expenses.

Mr Morrice said he was shocked at the move. "It is a disgrace that legal aid has been granted. That is not what legal aid is for and I think, like me, local people will be furious to hear of it."

Lis Bardell, the SNP candidate in Livingston, said: "For Jim Devine and his Labour colleagues to have even applied for legal aid, never mind being granted it, is the final insult for the public."