Fantastic news from the UK.

[jandajoy]

Criminal charges laid on 4 UK politicians

Posted 46 minutes ago
Updated 33 minutes ago
Labour MP Jim Devine is accused of claiming thousands of pounds worth of cleaning services and stationery using false invoices. (Reuters: David Moir)


British prosecutors announced criminal charges against four lawmakers over alleged abuse of parliamentary expenses.
In a dramatic twist in a scandal that has rocked politics in the country, Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), said charges of false accounting would be brought against three members of the elected House of Commons (MPs) and one member of the unelected upper House of Lords.
"In four cases, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges and that it is in the public interest to charge the individuals concerned," he said.
"Accordingly, summonses in these cases have been obtained from the City of Westminster Magistrates Court and will now be served on the individuals in question."
The three MPs are from the ruling Labour Party, while the House of Lords member is a member of the main opposition Conservative Party.
Former minister Elliot Morley MP faces two charges alleging that he dishonestly claimed mortgage expenses, including claiming 16,000 pounds ($29,000) for a mortgage that no longer existed.
His fellow MP David Chaytor faces three charges, including allegations that he used false invoices to claim for IT services and that he claimed almost 13,000 pounds ($23,500) in rent for a London property that he in fact owned.
The third MP to be named was Jim Devine, who faces two charges.
He is accused of claiming thousands of pounds worth of cleaning services and stationery using false invoices.
Paul White, known as Lord Hanningfield, faces six charges over allegations that he claimed expenses "to which he knew he was not entitled" including for staying overnight in London when records show he was actually driven home.
No charges were brought against a second member of the House of Lords who had also been under investigation, Starmer said, adding that a sixth case was still under consideration.
The announcement of charges came a day after an investigation concluded that British lawmakers were ordered to repay more than one million pounds in expenses, and slammed the "deeply flawed" system.
The long-awaited audit by former civil servant Thomas Legg said lawmakers must return 1.1 million pounds ($2 million) in payments received for loans on second homes, gardening and cleaning expenses.
-AFP

[royston p]

that will move us up the corruption scale.

[English Noodles]

I thought you were supposed to include links with news items? If you are going to use someones material, surely have the decency to credit them with it.

[ItsRobsLife]

I thought it was going to say 'Thatcher is dead!'

[jandajoy]

'Thatcher is dead!'

That bitch'll never die.

[crazy dog]

Good news but what about the other corrupt, greedy buggers?

[jandajoy]

Good news but what about the other corrupt, greedy buggers?

Who knows.............

Maybe,

Slowly slowly catchee monkey.

[robuzo]

I thought you were supposed to include links with news items? If you are going to use someones material, surely have the decency to credit them with it.

It would be nice, I would like to send this link to someone.

[BigRed]

Let's hope it's the Euro MPs next, starting with the Kinnocks

[English Noodles]

It would be nice, I would like to send this link to someone.

Yup, it's the done thing.

[zubber]

trouble is gorball mick the speaker who tried to cover it all up,got off scot free and is now a Lord .what a farking joke .the Jock got off the rap .

[meepho]

Let's hope it's the Euro MPs next, starting with the Kinnocks

We would love to see it happen BR.

From what i have seen and heard over the yeaers on news feeds, no bona-fide firm wants to get involved with auditing the euro expenses, and the vast majority of euro mps do not seem to mind and indeed do not want an audit.

Brussels has not been audited for at least seven years, that alone seems pretty sus to me and is illegal may i add.

A can of worms never to be opened me thinks.

The brit mp's have got off light imho.

[Beadle]

Not the only good news it seems... John Terry has been sacked as England captain.

[jandajoy]

It would be nice, I would like to send this link to someone.

http://abc.com.au/news/stories/2010/...section=justin

[nevets]

All politicians go in to that profession for the money they can get from corrupt activity. I would not trust them in any country.

[corned dog]

Even more good news in the world of politics Ricky Tomlinson ( royal family fame )
Is standing in Liverpool Wavertree ward PS Can't send the link I'm stupid !! But its in l'pool echo

[the dogcatcher]

No one will go to prison.
Same same Thailand, corrupt to fck.

[Panda]

Blair to be executed as a war criminal? Naw. Its OK. He was only doing what he thought was right. And besides, -- God is on his side.

[Belepheron]

Don't celebrate too quickly the worms are squirming.

Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine were accused under theft laws of illegally claiming almost £60,000 of taxpayers’ money in expenses. They face up to seven years in prison if convicted of the offences.

They have employed leading constitutional lawyers to argue that their conduct cannot be tried in a criminal court and that only Parliament can discipline them.

It is feared that the prosecution case against them could be delayed by months of legal wrangling over whether the MPs are right to assert that their actions are covered by parliamentary privilege.

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7168526/MPs-expenses-Labour-MPs-charged-with-false-accounting-try-to-claim-immunity.html