New peer faces expenses charges
By politics.co.uk staff
Lord Taylor of Warwick has resigned the Tory party whip after it was announced he would face false accounting charges over his expenses.
The news makes him the sixth parliamentarian to be prosecuted over expenses.
He is accused of dishonestly claiming over £11,000 in overnight subsistence and mileage claims.
He joins Labour MPs David Chaytor, Elliot Morley, Eric Illsley and Jim Devine, and Tory peer Lord Hanningfield in facing charges in the wake of the expenses scandal.
Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC said there was sufficient evidence to warrant criminal charges against Lord Taylor.
“The first charge alleges that, on or about 31 March 2006, Lord Taylor dishonestly submitted claims for overnight subsistence and car mileage stating that his main place of residence was outside London when he did not reside at the address he had given but actually resided in London,” he said.
“The subsequent charges allege that similar claims were made on 3 July 2006, 31 October 2006, 5 April 2007, 2 July 2007 and 31 October 2007.”
He will will appear at the City of Westminster magistrates’ court on Friday, August 13.
