Criminal MPs Who Fiddled Expenses Get Taxpayers to Pay for Their Defence

Three former Labour MPs accused of fiddling their parliamentary expenses have won taxpayer money to help pay their legal bills just weeks before the introduction of “means testing”.

David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine are accused of stealing almost £60,000 in allowances through false mortgage claims, rent claims and invoiced services.

They have been told they are eligible for legal aid to fund their defences which includes the argument that they are protected from prosecution by the ancient right of parliamentary privilege.

The former MPs’ total legal bill is expected to reach tens of thousands of points but could reach six figures if they continue their legal appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.

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Death Of The Internet: Unprecedented Censorship Bill Passes in UK

A draconian Internet censorship bill that has been long looming on the horizon finally passed the house of commons in the UK yesterday, legislating for government powers to restrict and filter any website that is deemed to be undesirable for public consumption.

The “Digital Economy Bill” was rushed through parliament in a late night session last night after a third reading.

In the wake of the announcement of a general election on May 6, the government has taken advantage of what is known as the “wash-up process”, allowing the legislative process to be speeded up between an election being called and Parliament being dissolved.

Only a pitiful handful of MPs (pictured above) were present to debate the bill, which was fully supported by the “opposition” Conservative party, and passed by 189 votes to 47 keeping the majority of its original clauses intact.'

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Time to Shed Light on the Murky World of Lobbying

It seems an unhappy mixture of braggadocio and stupidity led Stephen Byers to liken himself to a "cab for hire" and claim he had used his influence with Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, to help National Express extricate itself from a loss-making rail franchise. That is the only conclusion we can draw from this episode, given Lord Adonis's vehement and persuasive denial yesterday that he had been influenced in any way by his predecessor.

The boastful Mr Byers last graced the Cabinet table eight years ago; yet the image of him touting for cash is a disagreeable one that exposes another seamy aspect of life at Westminster. It is not only their expenses that MPs are adept at exploiting; they are also rather good at trading for hard cash the information and contacts they have made while in office. More disturbing than the Byers case is the eagerness with which Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon, both of whom were members of the Cabinet just nine months ago, were happy to sell their services. In defending Gordon Brown's refusal to hold an inquiry into these disclosures, Harriet Harman, the Leader of the Commons, yesterday insisted existing regulations are adequate. She is wrong.'

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Second Labour MP Claims For Non-existent Mortgage as Justice Minister Quits

David Chaytor has become the second Labour MP to admit claiming thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money for interest on a non-existent mortgage, it emerged last night.

The MP for Bury North will pay back £13,000 claimed on expenses after telling The Daily Telegraph that he had made an “unforgivable error” by continuing to submit monthly claims for £1,175 for months after the loan was paid off.

He is likely to receive the same treatment as Elliot Morley, a former minister, who has been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after admitting claiming £16,000 for a non-existent mortgage. Lawyers have said that there is a good case for a criminal investigation.

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MPs to Get Up to £5,000 Summer Recess Payment

MPS would be given a one-off payment of up to £5,000 to maintain their second homes this summer as part of Gordon Brown's controversial overhaul of their expenses system.
The Prime Minister is desperately looking for ways of averting a Commons defeat this week over his plans to introduce a flat-rate daily payment of about £150 to MPs for attending the Commons. David Cameron, the Conservative leader, yesterday claimed the "clocking-in" proposal – designed to replace the discredited second homes allowance – was "dead", while a Cabinet Minister privately conceded that Mr Brown's proposals in their present form would be rejected in Thursday's vote.

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MPs' Expenses: We Pay £460,000 for Wives and Children to Travel

A list of the allowances and expenses claimed in 2007-8 details for the first time how much each MP was reimbursed for family travel costs, amounting to £385,242 for wives and £75,819 for children.
Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, was the second highest claimant for family travel, charging £5,283 for 30 journeys made by his wife Margaret and £4,391 for the couple's two children, a total of £9,674.

The fact that the taxpayer is having to foot the bill for an average of more than £700 in travel expenses for the family of every MP is likely to be one of the issues discussed as part of an independent review into expenses and allowances which was ordered by Gordon Brown in the wake of the recent controversies involving the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, and the Employment Minister, Tony McNulty.

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MPs Vote for Expenses Cover Up

The move came after a court ordered Parliament to disclose details of properties on which MPs claim expenses.

The House of Commons on Monday backed an amendment to the Political Parties and Elections Bill, which effectively excludes MPs' addresses from the Freedom of Information Act.

Some MPs have claimed that disclosure of the information would threaten their security.
However, freedom of information campaigners believe the information is important to ascertain the validity of expense claims.

Some fear that the ban will make it harder to establish whether MPs are complying with the rules on housing expenses, making it easier for them to abuse their allowances.

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