Sobbing former MP appears in court over expenses
Former Luton South MP Margaret Moran looked broken as she sat in the dock for the short hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, writes Channel 4 News reporter Katie Razzall.
Ms Moran, the last MP to be prosecuted for alleged expenses fraud, sobbed loudly and was handed tissues by a court usher.
She faces 21 charges relating to her parliamentary expenses, which prosecutor Louis Mably told the district judge added up to a total “in the region of £80,000”. Fifteen of those charges involve false accounting, six relate to using a false instrument.
It is alleged Ms Moran, who was a Labour MP until she stood down at the last election, “flipped” her second home, making claims on properties in London, Luton and Southampton. Prosecutors also say she submitted false invoices.
The charges include dishonestly putting in a claim for £22,500 to pay for dry rot repairs at her Southampton home. She is also accused of falsely claiming £14,805 for boiler repairs and work on her conservatory.
Ms Moran’s voice was barely audible amongst the sobs as she confirmed her name and date of birth. Her next appearance will be on 28 October at Southwark Crown Court.
Other cases
Margaret Moran is one of several politicians accused or convicted of expenses fraud.
On 14 September, Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield was arrested over allegations that he made fraudulent claims while leader of Essex County Council. He has already been jailed for fiddling his House of Lords expenses.
Former Tory peer Lord Taylor of Warwick was jailed for 12 months after being convicted of abusing his parliamentary expenses and claiming more than £11,000 from the taxpayer.
Four former Labour MPs – Elliot Morley, Jim Devine, David Chaytor and Eric Illsley – have also received prison terms for expenses fraud.
Morley, a former minister, was jailed for 16 months for wrongly claiming more than £30,000 in bogus mortgage payments. Devine submitted false invoices for cleaning and printing work totalling £8,385 and was also jailed for 16 months.
Chaytor was sentenced to 18 months for fraudulently claiming more than £20,000 in expenses. Illsley dishonestly claimed £14,000 in parliamentary expenses and was jailed for 12 months.