MPs and peer in court over expenses (From Bucks Free Press)

MPs and peer in court over expenses

7:06am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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Three Labour MPs accused of theft by false accounting have arrived at court to face prosecution.

MPs Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine walked into City of Westminster Magistrates' Court at about 12.15pm on Thursday.

They will be joined by Tory peer Lord Hanningfield to face charges linked to the Westminster expenses scandal.

All of the men declined to comment as they passed a bank of photographers outside the Horseferry Road building.

Morley, wearing a pale blue shirt and wearing a blue and pink striped tie, carried his lunch in an M&S carrier bag.

The three MPs were accused of stealing money by abusing the Parliamentary allowance system.

Lord Hanningfield faces charges relating to his claims for House of Lords' allowances.

All four have denied any wrongdoing but if found guilty they could face jail sentences of up to seven years.

The men will appear in court number one, the highest magistrate court in England and Wales, watched by reporters who began queueing to get a seat at 10am.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the Met police force has launched a criminal inquiry into Leyton and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen after he claimed around £70,000 for a second home while allegedly renting out his main residence.