Expenses MPs granted legal aid
By politics.co.uk staff
The three Labour MPs on trial over their expenses have been granted legal aid.
The decision could push the cost of the prosecution up to £3 million.
Jim Devine, David Chaytor and Elliot Morley are trying to use arguments around parliamentary privilege to prevent any judgements against them from any institution apart from the House of Commons.
Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield – also facing charges – did not make an application for legal aid.
Tory leader David Cameron said the decision was “a complete outrage” during a speech this afternoon.
SNP Westminster candidate for Livingston Lis Bardell said: “For Jim Devine and his Labour colleagues to have even applied for legal aid, never mind being granted it, is the final insult for the public.”
The MPs say the 321-year-old Bill of Rights means the Commons rulebook on expenses is covered by parliamentary privilege, which usually protects MPs from libel when they speak from inside the Commons.
