The expenses scandal was a horrific PR blow to the government and it has been dragged out by three remaining MPs who refuse to pay back their false claims. They first attempted to use parliamentary immunity, which failed, and now they are now facing court. They plan to use legal aid paid for by the tax payer to defend themselves, a move that was condemned by Prime Minister Gordon Brown who declared they will have to pay back the costs.
Political commentators have noted it as a move by Brown to be seen to have a firm stance against expenses fraud in the lead up to the general election, but some legal experts have noted that there may be issues as it is a legal right to aid when defending oneself in court.
60,000 was reportedly stolen by the MPs through false mortgage applications, rent claims and service invoices. But the cost of the prosecution will far exceed that figure, 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.
Justice secretary Jack Straw said that the government was in the process of enabling legal aid to be means-tested although they would not be able to implement them soon enough for the case of the MPs. 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.
Scotland Yard claim the investigation has so far cost them over 500,000 and the overall cost of the case has been estimated to surpass 3million. The MPs will begin trials on May 27th at Southwark Crown Court in London where a spokesman has confirmed that the MPs were granted an application for legal aid. Using the legal aid, the MPs have hired high priced lawyers costing hundreds of pounds an hour but if found guilty, they could face up to seven years in prison for stealing taxpayer’s money.
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