Legal Aid For Expense Scandal MPs “To Be Repaid”

At the heart of the expenses scandal were three Labour MPs who refused to pay back their fraudulent expenses, they are now facing court after unsuccessfully trying to claim parliamentary immunity and they are intending on using state funded legal aid in their defence. This move was condemned by Prime Minister Gordon Brown who declared they will have to pay back the costs.

Brown made the move in a bid to be seen to take a stance against fraudulent expenses and dishonest politicians, especially in the lead up to the general election. However some legal experts have noted that the government may not have the ability to withhold legal aid which is provided by the state.

Jack Straw, justice secretary said that the government had now introduced reforms to enable legal aid to be means-tested although they would not be able to implement it in time for the MPs cases. Brown argued that the law has changed and although these changes will not take affect until June, it is just cause for the MPs to pay back the money.

The MPs have been accused of stealing over 60,000 through false mortgage applications, rent claims and service invoices. But at the expense of the taxpayer, the price of preparing their defence is likely to run into six figures even without the cost of the prosecution. There is further risk of the MPs having the case thrown out the Supreme Court which could send the cost even higher.

The huge cost of these cases has been rumoured to be in the region of 3million and the investigation has so far cost Scotland Yard over 500,000. Trials will begin at Southwark Crown Court in London on May 27th where a spokesman has confirmed that the MPs were granted an application for legal aid, hiring high priced lawyers that cost hundreds of pounds an hour. If found guilty, the MPs could face up to seven years in prison for stealing taxpayers money.

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