It is rarely - if ever - Dyn ar y Stryd agrees with a statement by Conservative leader David Cameron.
But his description of the decision to give Labour MPs David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine legal aid to fight false accounting charges as a complete outrage was spot on.
Cameron was speaking for just about every right thinking person in the UK.
However, since his public outburst it has been brought to my attention that it was the last Tory Government under John Major which abolished defendants' contributions to legal aid in the first place.
It was apparently costing about twice as much to administer as they were collecting from defendants.
But what is clear is that relatively rich people such as these three MPs should not be able to claim legal aid.
If this case had happened at the end of June they would have undoubtedly had to pay themselves as the Labour Government has introduced means-testing on Crown Court cases.
Showing posts with label MPs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MPs. Show all posts
Monday, 12 April 2010
Friday, 5 February 2010
Politicians' expenses scandal: Legal action ordered
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for MPs and those in the Lords it has.
Labour MPs Elliot Morley, Jim Devine, David Chaytor and Tory peer Lord Hanningfield will face criminal charges over their expenses, the Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer has announced.They will be charged under the Theft Act.All four have said they denied any charges.
Given the incredible revelations about MPs' expenses last year it's hardly surprising that legal action is being taken against some individuals and more cases could follow.
This is set to rumble on for a long time after this year's General Election.
It comes following the publication this week of the amounts MPs have to repay following an investigation.
The expenses system has been thoroughlym. Every party knew it was rotten but took no action until the Daily Telegraph did the public a great favour by exposing those MPs who took the public for a ride.
While the majority, including MPs are in politics for the right reasons, there are those whose only interest seems to have been to claim as much as they could from what they saw as a public gravy train.
Labour MPs Elliot Morley, Jim Devine, David Chaytor and Tory peer Lord Hanningfield will face criminal charges over their expenses, the Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer has announced.They will be charged under the Theft Act.All four have said they denied any charges.
Given the incredible revelations about MPs' expenses last year it's hardly surprising that legal action is being taken against some individuals and more cases could follow.
This is set to rumble on for a long time after this year's General Election.
It comes following the publication this week of the amounts MPs have to repay following an investigation.
The expenses system has been thoroughlym. Every party knew it was rotten but took no action until the Daily Telegraph did the public a great favour by exposing those MPs who took the public for a ride.
While the majority, including MPs are in politics for the right reasons, there are those whose only interest seems to have been to claim as much as they could from what they saw as a public gravy train.
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