The Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to charge three Labour MP’s and a Tory Lord is welcome. But it poses several questions. For instance the case of Elliot Morley seems clear-cut in that he claimed for a mortgage he had paid off. It will be interesting to see what his defence is. If it is to be ‘privilege’ then there is going to be one hell of a stink. As for the others they could all say, “It wasn’t just me.”
What about Harry Cohen who rented out his second home to tenants while claiming money for it? Surely that is as bad? And the MacKay/Kirkbride combo who are married but each claimed 2nd home allowance when they were living together? And the Wintertons? And Hoon? And McNulty? And all the other flippers and fiddlers.
The latest one, Junior Minister Sion Simon, who according to the Telegraph, was caught, “renting his "second home" in London from his sister, Ceri Erskine. MPs have been banned from renting property from family since April 2006. But Mr Simon continued to pay Mrs Erskine thousands of pounds from public funds after the rule was introduced. He apologised and promised to repay about £20,000.”
He is stepping down at the election and says it is because he wants to be Mayor of Birmingham. Oh yeah!
In short, there are plenty of execrable MP’s to go at so why stop at three? And as for the Lords and the European Parliament….
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