MPs accused over expenses 'will have to pay back legal aid'
Three Labour MPs awarded legal aid to fight their Commons expenses case will have to pay the money back, Gordon Brown said today.
There was widespread anger yesterday when it emerged that David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine would receive public money to defend themselves against charges of false accounting.
But today the Prime Minister predicted that none of them would be allowed to hold on to the state aid they receive. Mr Brown said that government moves to tighten up the law on legal aid would mean that the MPs would not benefit.
Tory leader David Cameron yesterday called the awarding of the cash a "complete outrage" and promised a review of the system if he won power to ensure it would not happen again.
But Justice Secretary Jack Straw said Labour had already introduced reforms, against Tory opposition, to enable the courts to means-test white-collar defendants for legal aid.
The changes were not being implemented in time to cover the start of the MPs' trial. By the time their case at Southwark crown court is completed, the new rules should have kicked in, Labour sources said.
Asked about the case today during a phone-in on BBC Radio Derby, Mr Brown said: "I think this money will have to be paid back by these politicians.
"I think the evidence is that people in their position will have to pay back the money — or most of the money — they get in legal aid.
"We have actually abolished this free legal aid from the end of June, so it has to be means-tested from the end of June and they wouldn't have got it in these circumstances. The law has changed, so I think the money will have to be paid back."
Mr Brown said the offences with which the MPs are charged were "completely morally unacceptable".
The three MPs are accused of stealing almost £60,000 between them in allowances through false mortgage applications, rent claims and invoices for services. The cost of preparing their defence and of their legal representatives is likely to run into six figures.
The case will start with a two-day hearing before trial judge Mr Justice Saunders at Southwark crown court from May 27.
