Labour MPs deny expenses fraud (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Labour MPs deny expenses fraud

2:46pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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Three Labour MPs accused of expenses fraud said they would plead not guilty when they appeared in court for the first time.

MPs Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine face charges of theft by false accounting.

Appearing in the dock before City of Westminster Magistrates' Court they told District Judge Timothy Workman they denied any wrongdoing.

All three MPs were released on unconditional bail and ordered to appear at Southwark Crown Court on March 30.

At the start of the 15 minute hearing an application by their barrister Julian Knowles to allow the defendants to sit outside the dock was rejected.

Their prosecution, at a court a short distance from Parliament, is the first to result from the Westminster expenses scandal.

Tory peer Lord Hanningfield also faces charges linked to the Westminster expenses scandal but has entered no plea yet. Lord Hanningfield faces charges relating to his claims for House of Lords' allowances.

All four have denied any wrongdoing but if found guilty they could face jail sentences of up to seven years.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the Met police force has launched a criminal inquiry into Leyton and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen after he claimed around £70,000 for a second home while allegedly renting out his main residence.