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MPs and Peers referred to CPS over expenses
24 Nov 2009Police investigating allegations of expenses fraud in Parliament referred four MPs and peers to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The Metropolitan Police said detectives had handed files on the four to officials at the CPS. In a statement it said a "small number" of other cases remained under investigation.
The CPS said decisions on whether to bring charges against all or any of the four would be made "as quickly as is reasonably practical".
None of the parliamentarians concerned have been named by the police, although recent media reporting has concentrated on six individuals.
They include the Labour MPs Elliot Morley and David Chaytor who each claimed thousands of pounds in second homes allowances for so-called "phantom" mortgages which had already been paid off.
A third Labour MP, Jim Devine, has reportedly been under investigation over invoices he submitted for electrical work worth £2,157 from a company with an allegedly fake address and an invalid VAT number.
The Labour peer Baroness Uddin is facing allegations she claimed £100,000 in allowances by registering as her main home a property in Maidstone, Kent, that was reportedly barely occupied.
Another Labour peer Lord Clarke of Hampstead, a former party chairman, has admitted his "terrible error" in claiming up to £18,000 a year for overnight subsistence when he often stayed with friends in London or returned home to St Albans, Herts.
Lord Hanningfield, the Conservative peer who is also leader of Essex County Council, was reported to be under investigation over whether he was returning to his home while claiming overnight allowances totalling £100,000 over a seven year period.
Mr Morley said he did not know whether he was among the four cases referred to the CPS.
"I have heard absolutely nothing. I have no idea where this story has come from," he said.
Asked if her case was among those involved, Baroness Uddin said: "I could not possibly comment."
None of the other four could be contacted for comment.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, must now decide whether there is a realistic chance of securing convictions and what charges, if any, he should bring.
Potentially, the four parliamentarians could be prosecuted for fraud or false accounting, with maximum penalties of 10 or seven years.
A CPS spokesman said: "Any decisions on whether or not there should be any charges in relation to these files will be made as quickly as is reasonably practical.
"Since a number of other cases in relation to parliamentary expenses are still under investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage."
Scotland Yard launched a number of investigations last June into potential criminal wrongdoing after details of MPs' expenses and allowances were made public by The Daily Telegraph.
A Met spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service has today delivered four main files of evidence relating to parliamentary expenses to the Crown Prosecution Service.
"The files relate to four people, from both the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and will now be subject to CPS consideration on whether there should be any charges. A small number of cases remain under investigation."
Reader views (4)
Patience! It's a virtue.
They can hardly inundate the CPS with hundreds of cases (or however many it is) at one time. These will be test cases in all likelihood (at least they would be in a sane world, so .... hmmmm). Best to think positive though, even if history is against the notion. Hopefully there's more to follow.
- Rogan, Irving, 24/11/2009 19:12
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Im shocked! the police have referred only four MPs to the Crown Prosecution Service! are the police being serious!
I hope people realize that not one of these four will be prosectued! its all a sham.
- Cm, London, 24/11/2009 09:02
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This should be (and I hope it is) just the begining.
By the way - can anyone tell me why we are looking at just the last 5 years, what about the previous 5, or do we all beleive that all our MPs and Peers were good a s gold then and just turned rotton 5 years ago???????????????????????????????????????????????
- Very Angry At Mp'S Expenses, Home Counties, 24/11/2009 08:56
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Four out of a possible 400 and pretty certain that they will all get away with it.The public is being insulted by this pussyfooting....a benefits abuser is prosecuted with commendable speed but our politicians appear to be above the law.Is there no newspaper willing to launch a fund to bring a citizen's case against some of the leading abusers?
- Peter Doff, Filey Yorkshire, 24/11/2009 08:02
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