MPs plead not guilty to expenses claim charges
Updated on 11 March 2010
Three MPs and a peer all plead not guilty to charges relating to their parliamentary expenses during their first appearances in court.
A short distance from parliament, MPs David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Elliot Morley appeared together before City of Westminster Magistrates' Court facing charges of theft by false accounting.
All three were released on unconditional bail and ordered to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 30 March.
The barrister for the MPs requested at the start of the 15 minute hearing that the three MPs be allowed to sit outside the dock, but this was rejected. Political correspondent Cathy Newman said the attendant locked the door to the dock afterwards.
After a short consultation with their legal team, the three left the court without commenting to journalists.
Immediately afterwards, Lord Hanningfield, wearing a grey suit, also appeared before the magistrates. He was also released on unconditional bail to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 30 March.
After the brief hearing, Hanningfield issued a statement saying he was "devastated" by the affair.
Although all three MPs have previously admitted mistakes over their expenses, their barrister Julian Knowles said they maintained they were innocent of the charges read out today.
He said that the matter should have been dealt with by parliament rather than a court of law because of constitutional principles dating back to the 17th century bill of rights.
The document in question is kept under lock and key in a turret in Parliament. Article 9 states that debates or parliamentary proceedings ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.
The MPs' barrister said that the issues at stake were of the highest constitutional importance. He insisted his clients did not believe they were above the law.
The charges:
David Chaytor, 60, of Todmorden, Lancashire, is accused of providing false information on an allowances form under the Theft Act 1968. The charge states he falsely claimed rents between September 2005 and August 2006 for 152 Hide Tower, Regency Street, London, from Sarah Elizabeth Rastrick. It added he claimed £12,925 by lodging a claim for £1,175 a month in rent when he was in fact the owner of the premises.
A second charge stated that on or about 19 May 2006, he dishonestly filed two invoices for computer IT services worth £975 each. The court document added they purported to show the services had been provided in February and March 2006 by Paul France.
A third charge stated that between November 2005 and September 2006 he dishonestly made use of a short-hold tenancy agreement in a claim form. This showed that between August 2007 and January 2008 he rented Delph Cottage, Castle Street, Summerseat, Bury, from Olive Trickett for £775 a month plus a month deposit. The charge added that Mrs Trickett was his mother and it was not permissible to lease accommodation from a family member. The total sum claimed was £5,425.
Jim Devine, 56, of West Main Street, Bathgate, West Lothian, is accused of falsely claiming costs for parliamentary duties in March 2009. The charge sheet alleged he submitted two misleading invoices worth a total of £5,505 for services provided by Armstrong Printing Limited.
A second charge alleged that between July 2008 and May 2009 he dishonestly claimed allowances for repair, insurance or security. The document alleges he intended to gain by submitting false invoices for services, cleaning and maintenance worth £3,240. The services were allegedly provided between April 2009 and March 2010 by Tom O'Donnell Hygiene and Cleaning Services.
Elliot Morley, 57, of West Street, Winterton, North Lincolnshire, is accused of falsely claiming a furnishing allowance between March 2006 and November 2007. The charge sheet alleged he submitted a deceptive mortgage application. This showed £800 mortgage monthly interest was charged by the Cheltenham and Gloucester when in fact the mortgage was paid off. A total overpayment of £16,000 was made.
A second charge alleged that between April 2004 and February 2006 Morley made a further false mortgage interest claim. Again he is accused of claiming £800 a month, a total overpayment of £14,428.67.
Lord Hanningfield, also known as Paul White, 69, of West Hanningfield, Chelmsford, Essex, faced six charges. The offences are alleged to have taken place in March 2006, May 2007, April 2008, July 2008, May 2009 and April 2009.
One charge stated that on or about 1 April 2009, at Westminster, he made a dishonest claim for travelling allowances. It stated Lord Hanningfield "purported to show that you were entitled to be paid expenses when the conditions entitled you to payment of such expenses had not been fulfilled".
