BBC has all morning been saying the Crown Prosecution Service will make an announcement about the six MPs and peers
BBC has all morning been saying the DPP, from the Crown Prosecution Service will make an announcement about the six MPs and peers
They have also been saying that they cannot say if anything will happen by way of criminal prosecution against any of the six.
They then add that the Police had got themselves in a bit of a bother with their handing of the Tory MP arrested recently.
Although they haven’t said anything about the many other peers, Blair and the lengthy reports about bribery that did not result in any CPS action being taken, the likelihood that the ‘six’ will be prosecuted is not very strong.
Not at least at ten minutes past nine on Friday 5 February 2010
They have also been saying that they cannot say if anything will happen by way of criminal prosecution against any of the six.
They then add that the Police had got themselves in a bit of a bother with their handing of the Tory MP arrested recently.
Although they haven’t said anything about the many other peers, Blair and the lengthy reports about bribery that did not result in any CPS action being taken, the likelihood that the ‘six’ will be prosecuted is not very strong.
Not at least at ten minutes past nine on Friday 5 February 2010
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DAILY TELEGRAPH MPs' expenses: DPP to announce whether charges will be brought
05.02.2010 10:11
MPs' expenses: DPP to announce whether charges will be brought
Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, is due to announce later on Friday on live television whether to prosecute up to six parliamentarians with fraud and false accounting following a Scotland Yard investigation.
By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent
Published: 7:00AM GMT 05 Feb 2010
Those facing possible charges are, clockwise from top left: Lord Clarke of Hampstead, Baroness Uddin, Lord Hanningfield, Elliot Morley, David Chaytor, Jim Devine
Those facing possible charges are the Labour MPs Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine, the Labour peers Baroness Uddin and Lord Clarke of Hampstead, and Lord Hanningfield, a Tory.
The DPP's final decision has been kept a closely guarded secret and not even Sir Paul Stephenson, the Scotland Yard Commissioner, has been told of the result.
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Detectives are, however, confident that up to three politicians - two MPs and a peer - will face criminal charges over their expenses claims.
The announcement by the head of the Crown Prosecution Service will be made at 11am.
Mr Starmer will determine whether the politicians should be charged with fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, or false accounting, for which the maximum penalty is seven years.
The most serious allegations concern Mr Morley and Mr Chaytor, who both claimed thousands of pounds for "phantom'' mortgages they had paid off.
Police have also investigated why Mr Chaytor, the Bury North MP, also claimed almost £5,000 in office allowances to pay his daughter, Sarah, under an assumed name. She was questioned by detectives.
Both MPs deny criminal wrongdoing and gave statements to police saying they would like to co-operate with them but were unable to because of "parliamentary privilege".
Mr Morley has paid back £16,000 and Mr Chaytor has paid back £13,000.
Lord Hanningfield, who is also leader of Essex county council, claimed £100,000 over seven years for staying in London despite living 46 miles from the capital.
He has been investigated over whether he was returning to his home in Essex while claiming "overnight allowances''. His chauffeur, paid for by the council, was questioned by detectives.
Mr Devine, MP for Livingston, submitted invoices for electrical work worth £2,157 from a company with an allegedly fake address and an invalid VAT number.
Lord Clarke, a former Labour Party chairman, admitted a "terrible error'' to a newspaper reporter after claiming up to £18,000 a year for overnight subsistence when he often stayed with friends in London or returned home to St Albans, Herts.
Lady Uddin allegedly claimed £100,000 in allowances by registering as her main home a property in Maidstone, Kent, that was apparently barely occupied.
It is understood that at least one peer will escape prosecution and that not all six cases have yet been decided upon by Mr Starmer. All of the MPs and peers deny criminal wrongdoing.
A team of detectives assessed and investigated cases after The Daily Telegraph's disclosed widespread abuse of parliamentary allowances.
A number of other cases in relation to parliamentary expenses are still under investigation.
wondering
The wait is over - they are all being done
05.02.2010 14:59
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