CPS ANNOUNCES DECISION TO PROSECUTE MPS

1.16.53pm GMT Fri 5th Feb 2010

Following the Crown Prosecution Service's announcement today to prosecute four Parliamentarians for fraud, Nick comments, "After much deliberation by the CPS the matter now rests in the hands of the courts. These cases will hopefully help restore public confidence in Parliament by showing that its members are not above the law."

Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer's said today (after examining six cases of alleged wrongdoing by MPs and Peers) three MPs and a Peer will be charged under the 1968 Theft Act for false accounting. Potentially anyone convicted of fraud or false accounting could face 7-10 years in prison. With the fifth case there is insufficient evidence to gain a conviction and the sixth is still under investigation.

Nick concludes, "I fully appreciate that many people were frustrated by the pace of the CPS assessment of the cases. However, it had to decide whether there is a good possibility of securing convictions, what charges should be brought and under what legislation."

For full details of the charges see below link to the CPS statement:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/press_statements/parliamentary_expenses_charging_decisions/