MPs and counterpart beg parliamentary payoff as they beg not guilty to losses charges Politics

Jim Devine MP, David Chaytor MP, Elliot Morley MP and Conservative counterpart Lord Hanningfield. Photograph: PA

Three Labour MPs and a Conservative counterpart confronting charges over their losses appeared in probity currently to disagree that their cases should be dealt with by legislature rather than the rapist probity system.

Elliot Morley, David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Lord Hanningfield answered summonses at City of Westminster magistrates probity to be charged with fake accounting underneath the Theft Act.

Their cases were referred to Southwark climax probity after lawyers for the men pronounced the box was of "high inherent importance" and they would be arguing their right for it to be listened by parliament.

Morley, Chaytor and Devine appeared together in the wharf of probity No 1 as their lawyer, Julian Knowles, pronounced that they "unequivocally and resolutely say their ignorance of the charges opposite them".

Knowles told the arch civil district judge, Timothy Workman: "They additionally say that to take to justice them in the rapist courts for their parliamentary activities would transgress the element of the subdivision of powers, that is one of the beliefs that underpins the UK"s inherent structure."

He continued: "They would argue: "The workings of legislature should be dealt with by parliament.""

He pronounced the theme make a difference of the prosecutions was lonesome by parliamentary payoff conferred on them by essay 9 of the Bill of Rights 1689: "Article 9 provides that record in legislature cannot be impeached or questioned in any probity or place outward parliament."

He said: "My clients should not be accepted as observant they are on top of the law. That would be utterly wrong. Parliamentary payoff is piece of the law, and it is for legislature to request the law in their cases."

He added: "The issues lifted by these 3 cases are of high inherent importance."

Morley, a former cultivation apportion and MP for Scunthorpe, faces dual charges relating to £30,000 debt claims to which, it is alleged, he was not entitled.

Chaytor, the MP for Bury North, faces 3 charges relating to claims of £1,950 for IT services and £18,000 relating to rent.

Devine is supposed to have claimed £3,240 for cleaning services and £5,505 for stationery utilizing fake invoices. All 3 entered not guilty pleas.

A move to concede the 3 MPs to sojourn in the main physique of the probity and not to mount in the wharf was refused by the judge. All 3 were postulated umbrella bail.

Hanningfield appeared alone to beg not guilty to 6 charges relating to claims for overnight stays in London on nights when he was at home in Essex. His lawyer, Rupert Bowers, indicated he as well would be arguing that his box was lonesome by parliamentary privilege. Hanningfield done no try to equivocate station in the dock.

The former Essex county legislature leader, who appeared underneath the name of "Paul Edward Winston Lord Hanningfield, formerly White", was additionally postulated umbrella bail.

The decider declined office of the cases.

The parliamentary payoff evidence will right away be argued at Southwark climax court.

The 3 MPs have been barred from station as Labour possibilities at the stirring ubiquitous election.

They left probity but commenting to reporters and got in to a watchful black taxi accompanied by their lawyers and escorted by military officers.

There was a short vanquish around the car as protesters hurled abuse, cheering "pigs" and "oink, oink".

After the hearing, Hanningfield released a matter observant he was "devastated" by the affair.

His spokesman, Mark Spragg, said: "Lord Hanningfield has clinging the last 40 years of his hold up to open make use of together with both as personality of Essex county legislature given 2000 and as a part of of the House of Lords given 1998."

The charges in full

David Chaytor, the MP for Bury North, is indicted of on condition that fake report on an allowances form underneath the Theft Act 1968.

The assign states he secretly claimed rent in in in in in in in between Sep 2005 and Aug 2006 for 152 Hide Tower, Regency Street, London, from Sarah Elizabeth.

It adds that he claimed £12,925 by camp a explain for £1,175 a month in rent when he was in actuality the owners of the premises.

A second assign states that on or about nineteen May 2006, he dishonestly filed dual invoices for computer IT services value £975.

The probity request adds that they supposed to show the services had been supposing in Feb and Mar 2006 by Paul France.

A third assign states that in in in in in in in between Nov 2005 and Sep 2006 he dishonestly done make use of of a short-hold control agreement in a explain form.

This showed that in in in in in in in between Aug 2007 and Jan 2008 he rented Delph Cottage, Castle Street, Summerseat, Bury, from Olive Trickett for £775 a month and a month deposit.

The assign adds that Trickett was his mom and it was not slight to franchise place to live from a family member. The sum sum claimed was £5,425.

Jim Devine, the MP for Livingston, is indicted of secretly claiming costs for parliamentary duties in Mar 2009.

The assign piece alleges he submitted dual dubious invoices value a sum of £5,505 for services supposing by Armstrong Printing Ltd.

A second assign alleges that in in in in in in in between Jul 2008 and May 2009 he dishonestly claimed allowances for repair, word or security.

The request alleges he dictated to benefit by submitting fake invoices for services, cleaning and upkeep value £3,240.

The services were allegedly supposing in in in in in in in between Apr 2009 and Mar 2010 by Tom O"Donnell Hygiene and Cleaning Services.

Elliot Morley, the MP for Scunthorpe, is indicted of secretly claiming a furnishing stipend in in in in in in in between Mar 2006 and Nov 2007.

The assign piece alleges he submitted a fake debt application.

This showed £800 debt monthly seductiveness was charged by the Cheltenham and Gloucester when in actuality the debt was paid off. A sum overpayment of £16,000 was made.

A second assign alleges that in in in in in in in between Apr 2004 and Feb 2006 Morley done a serve fake debt seductiveness claim.

Again he is indicted of claiming £800 a month, a sum overpayment of £14,428.67.

Lord Hanningfield, additionally well known as Paul White, faces 6 charges.

The offences are supposed to have taken place in Mar 2006, May 2007, Apr 2008, Jul 2008, May 2009 and Apr 2009.

One assign states that on or about 1 Apr 2009, at Westminster, he done a prejudiced explain for travelling allowances.

It states that Hanningfield "purported to show that you were entitled to be paid losses when the conditions entitled you to remuneration of such losses had not been fulfilled".