< Back to previous page

MPs claim privilege over fraud allegations

Published on 4 Jan 2010 under category: legal

Three Labour members of parliament (MPs) have claimed that they are protected from fraud investigation by parliamentary privilege.

Jim Devine, Elliot Morley and David Chaytor are all being looked into due to alleged expenses fraud.

Mr Devine is at the centre of a row regarding a £2,157 claim for work on his home which allegedly carried an invalid VAT receipt number.

Meanwhile, Mr Morley and Mr Chaytor are being investigated due to concerns over claiming on mortgages that had already been paid.

However, the three have raised the question of whether privilege, which acts as a shield against legal action when controversial issues are raised in the Commons, protects them from fraud crime investigations.

The news comes after an audit into MP expenses which was carried out by Sir Thomas Legg last year.

Since then, around 400 MPs have been asked to repay money that they claimed from the taxpayer, with approximately £1 million repaid so far.

If you require advice on Corporate Fraud please call us on +44 (0)20 7831 0101 and ask for Dan Hyde.