Four UK politicians charged for dodgy expenses

Three MPs and a Lord

The Crown Prosecution Service has informed the Metropolitan Police that it intends to charge four politicians with accounting offences after the investigation into the expenses scandal.

The police passed files on six individuals to the CPS which chose four that it believed had sufficient evidence for a successful prosecution.

The four who will face trial are three Labour MPs: Elliott Morley, 57, MP for Scunthorpe, David Chaytor, 60, MP for Bury, James Devine, 56, MP for Livingston and Tory Lord Hanningfield (aka Paul White).

Devine and Morley face two charges of false accounting, Chaytor three counts and Hannigfield six counts.

All four will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 11 March.

The MPS statement is here.

Keir Stammer, director of Public Prosecutions, said in the fifth case the CPS found insufficient evidence. Stammer said that investigation was into the affairs of Lord Clarke of Hampstead.

The Labour peer admitted claiming up to £18,000 a year for overnight stays in London when he often either stayed with friends or drove home.

The sixth case is still under consideration.

The maximum sentence for false accounting under section 17 of the Theft Act is seven years in prison. ®