Tory peer says he will clear his name (From Gazette)

Tory peer says he will clear his name

4:52pm Monday 8th February 2010

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LORD Hanningfield is to appear in court accused of making false expenses claims.

The Conservative peer has resigned as a shadow minister in the House of Lords and as leader of Essex County Council.

But he is continuing as a county councillor and has vowed to “vigorously” defend himself against the charges.

Keir Starmer QC, director of public prosecutions, said Lord Hanningfield would face six charges under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 for false accounting.

The charges allege he dishonestly submitted claims for expenses, including for overnight accommodation in London when records show he was driven back to his home in West Hanningfield, near Chelmsford.

Lord Hanningfield claimed £99,970 in overnight subsistence expenses bet-ween 2001 and 2008. The charges relate to claims made between March 2006 and May 2009.

After the news broke, a Conservative spokesman said Lord Hanningfield had resigned as a shadow business spokesman in the House of Lords and his Tory whip had been suspended.

Later, Lord Hanningfield announced he was stepping down as leader of Essex County Council, but would remain a councillor.

In a statement, he said: “I am extremely disappointed I am to be charged. All the claims I have ever made were made in good faith.

“I have co-operated fully with the police throughout their inquiries.

“I totally refute the charges and will vigorously defend myself against them.

“I have never claimed more in expenses than I have spent in the course of my duties. To allow me to do this properly, given what will be a time-consuming business, I am resigning as leader of Essex County Council.”

The process of finding his replacement as council leader begins tomorrow.

Lord Hanningfield, along with Labour MPs Jim Devine, David Chaytor and Elliot Morley, will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on March 11.

His position at County Hall was untenable – MP THE MP who is believed to have drawn Lord Hanning-field’s expenses claims to the attention of investigators says the peer was right to resign from his roles.

Colchester Lib Dem MP Bob Russell raised Lord Hanning-field’s overnight allowance claims during a House of Commons debate last May, but was interrupted by the Deputy Speaker.

After the announcement the peer had been charged, Mr Russell refused to comment on whether he was responsible for reporting Lord Hanningfield to the police.

He said he agreed with the Tory’s decision to step aside as leader of Essex County Council and as a shadow business spokes-man, but said remaining a councillor was the right move.

Mr Russell said: “Clearly these are serious charges. While these charges are before him, it is untenable for him to remain as leader of Essex County Council or to remain as a shadow minister in the House of Lords.

“There is no reason why he should step down as a councillor.

“He’s democratically elected as a councillor and he has been charged. He has not been convicted. It’s important in this country we keep the political and judicial spheres separate.”

Mr Russell, who has paid back £4,500 of mortgage interest and council tax claims following the expenses scandal, said he did not want to comment further, now charges had been brought.

When it first emerged that the Metropolitan Police were investigating Lord Hanningfield’s expenses last July, he claimed it was the result of a personal attack by a Liberal Democrat MP, widely believed to be Mr Russell.

Mr Russell has been at loggerheads with County Hall Conservatives, including Lord Hanningfield, over a decision to close two schools in Colchester as part of a £130million education restructure.

The maximum sentence for the charge of theft by false accounting is seven years.

** Comments have been frozen on this story because it concerns ongoing legal proceedings **

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