Three former Labour MPs accused of fiddling their parliamentary expenses have been awarded publicly-funded legal aid to pay for their defence in their upcoming court cases, officials said on Monday. Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine all face criminal charges of false accounting over claims they made for mortgage payments, rent and other services. They deny the accusations.
Court officials confirmed that it had been agreed that the cost of their legal representation at trials expected later this year should be covered by the taxpayer-funded legal aid service. Conservative peer Paul White, known as Lord Hanningfield, did not make an application, the spokesman added. Media reports said the trio's legal costs could cost as much as 3 million pounds.
The lawyer representing Morley, Chaytor and Devine argued at a court hearing in March that parliamentary privilege should prevent them from having to face a criminal trial. Labour has barred former minister Morley, Chaytor and Devine from running for parliament at the election on May 6. Hanningfield has resigned as the Conservative's business spokesman in the House of Lords and has been suspended by the party. The four men are next due in court on May 27.