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By Tony Grew - 20th May 2011
A former Labour minister has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for expenses fraud.
Elliot Morley pleaded guilty to two counts of false accounting.
Mr Justice Saunders, passing sentence today at Southwark crown court, said:
"The criminal conduct that he has admitted by those pleas is making false claims for expenses over a three and a half year period in the total sum of over £30,000.
"He claimed this as repayment of mortgage payments that he said he had made."
While the judge paid tribute to Morley's service as an MP and minister, he also said he was guilty of "a serious breach of trust by those who were elected to govern us".
"Arguably it is worse in Mr Morley's case because he was a minister for most of the time that the fraud was being perpetrated."
Morley was accused of claiming £15,200 more than he was entitled to in mortgage claims and of submitting £16,800 in claims even though he had paid off the mortgage.
Morley is the fourth former MP to be jailed for expenses fraud.
Former Labour MPs Jim Devine and David Chaytor are serving time in prison as a result of the 2009 expenses scandal.
Eric Illsley was recently released after serving four months of a year-long sentence.
Morley served the Blair government as a minister in the various environment departments for nine years from 1997 until 2005. He stood down from Parliament in 2010.
Mr Justice Sanders described the case as tragic.
"The defendant has had a distinguished political career," he said.
"He has served as a minister in which capacity he was highly respected.
"I have received and read a truly remarkable series of testimonials from very distinguished people as well as people in difficulty who he has helped.
"He is a man who has been a positive force for good in the community as a whole and a model constituency MP.
"He has made a significant contribution to this country.
"In particular, he has done a great deal to promote the green agenda, and protect and preserve the natural world.
"To make the sort of contribution that he has made has required an enormous amount of hard work.
"The results of this case are tragic for the defendant and his family. He has thrown away his good name and good character."
Article Comments
A 'Scapegoat', just like the Banker, Fred Goodwin.
Was Justice done in this Political case? Probably. Was Justice done in the case of BANKERS? OH NO!!
I am amazed at the weakness or, even, a paranoid sense of collaboration between the POWERFUL groups such as the media and the politicians who neither have been willing to continue the emphasis of many other MPs who tried to repay their wrong-doings - and got away with it too.
As for the bankers, well none of them lost. Apparently, the bankers are UNTOUCHABLE. However, the vulnerable are not!!
SHAMEFUL!!
IAS
9th Jun 2011 at 7:08 pm
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