Four British politicians charged over expenses scam

LONDON (Reuters/AFP) - Prosecutors charged three British MPs and one peer on Friday with false accounting over their parliamentary expenses, a further blow to the major parties ahead of an election that must be held by June.
The cases stem from a wider scandal that erupted last year over politicians expenses that angered voters and tainted both Labour and the Conservatives.
The three MPs are from Prime Minister Gordon Browns Labour Party and the charges will not help his already tough battle against the main Opposition Conservatives at the next election, which must be held by June.
In four cases, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges and that it is in the public interest to charge the individuals concerned, said Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer in a televised statement.
He named the four as Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine, who are Labour MPs, and Paul White, known as Lord Hanningfield, a Conservative peer.
Starmer said that MP Elliot Morley, a former minister, faced two charges of allegedly dishonestly claiming mortgage expenses, including claiming 16,000 pounds for a mortgage that no longer existed. His fellow MP David Chaytor faces three charges, including allegations that he used false invoices to claim for IT services and that he claimed almost 13,000 pounds in rent for a London property that he in fact owned. Chaytor has previously apologised unreservedly for what he called an unforgivable error in my accounting procedures.
The third MP was Jim Devine, who faces two charges. He is accused of claiming thousands of pounds worth of cleaning services and stationery using false invoices.
In a statement, the three men said: We totally refute any charges that we have committed an offence and we will defend our position robustly. Lord Hanningfield, the Conservative peer who faces six charges over allegations that he claimed expenses to which he knew he was not entitled including for staying overnight in London when records show he was actually driven home, also protested his innocence but immediately resigned as a business spokesman for his party in the House of Lords and his membership was suspended, a party spokesman said.
I totally refute the charges and will vigorously defend myself against them, the peer said, adding that all his claims were made in good faith.
The four men, who face a maximum sentence of seven years in jail, are scheduled to appear in court on March 11.
Labour said it had barred Morley, Chaytor and Devine from running for new terms. I am very angry about what has happened ... These are very serious criminal allegations, said Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He said it was now a matter for the courts but noted changes his government had introduced to clean up the expenses system, adding Weve got to get rid of that old politics. It cannot be part of the new system, he told reporters.
He further said that constitutional reforms he had proposed would help restore credibility in politics.
Starmer said another member of the House of Lords who had been investigated would not face charges but a sixth case was still under consideration.
The investigation by former civil servant Thomas Legg concluded on Thursday that MPs should repay 1.1 million pounds in expenses, and slammed the deeply flawed system.