In the Dock

Today former Labour MP for Bury North David Chaytor has pleaded guilty to three charges relating to his expenses claims.

1. Chaytor had claimed almost £13,000 for renting a flat in London which he owned – he faked a tenancy agreement claiming he was paying £1,175 a month rent.
2. He also claimed over £5,000 for renting a home in his Bury constituency, which was owned by his mother. He admitted he had not paid his mother, who had moved into a nursing home. House of Commons rules prohibit renting property from a family member.
3. Chaytor was also charged with falsely claiming almost £2,000 for IT services. He had provided two invoices for professional services from an IT consultant when in fact the services had not been provided or charged for.

Chaytor was given unconditional bail and will be sentenced on January 7th.  His barrister James Sturman QC told the judge,

"There is no loss to the public purse. Any sums claimed have been, or will be, repaid."

Chaytor originally denied the charges but change his plea, having failed in a court bid to argue that expenses cases should be heard by Parliament, not the courts.  In sentencing I hope the judge will not simply take into account Chaytors guilty plea but will consider the protracted and expensive way he has fought to avoid this charge also the case of Andrew Gibson who I blogged on some weeks ago.

On January 7th 2011 it won't just be David Chaytor in the dock.
Best Wishes
Will