| lesley153
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“The House of Lords Standards Commissioner launched a formal investigation into Cabinet minister Baroness Warsi's expenses claims today.” (Fri 8.6.12)
 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/9314563/Standards-watchdog-opens-probe-into-Baroness-Warsis-expenses.html
It also appears that she has failed to register a controlling stake in a spice manufacturing firm. This would be in breach of rules that order peers to declare their business interests to the House of Lords authorities, particularly if they are the principal shareholders in a company.
For the sake of £11,000, Lord Taylor did time (sentenced to twelve months, let out after four), and has now lost his livelihood He has been disbarred for conduct discreditable to a barrister.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/9290580/Lord-Taylor-banned-from-legal-profession-following-expenses-scandal.html
And these - Warsi, Uddin, Taylor, Hanningfield, Paul, Bhatia and Smith - have all been caught out exaggerating claims for accomodation.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9293532/Baroness-Warsi-expenses-the-politicians-caught-out-by-their-accommodation-claims.html
Reply #1. Jun 08 12, 4:29 AM
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satguru 
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I hope she shares a cell with Chris Huhne's ex. They'd make a lovely couple.
Reply #2. Jun 11 12, 11:24 AM
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| lesley153
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That's a thought - almost enough to put me off my food.
I looked for news of the Huhne trial, and the latest is a week old. She's accusing him of marital coercion to take his speeding points. She's at risk of a conviction for perverting the course of justice which, as one headline gleefully announced, carried a maximum sentence of life. Ouch. I wonder if she's sorry she opened her mouth, and they're both sorry they ever clapped eyes on each other.
While I was looking, I also found an article about Mr Huhne's spare lady friend.
http://tinyurl.com/Huhne-s-bit-of-fluff
Another one who can dish it out but can't take it. And what a lovely couple they must have made!
Reply #3. Jun 11 12, 1:17 PM
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satguru
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The marital pressure argument is one which basically puts him in it over his head and no straw to breathe through. If married you can't testify against each other, but if divorced she would carry as much weight as anyone else. If the trial was at Hendon I'd go and watch it, and his attempt to have the case thrown out before trial doesn't appear to be in my law notes, and suspect anyone else's. It's going to be interesting.
Reply #4. Jun 11 12, 1:29 PM
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demurechicky
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If married, they can't be compelled by the prosecution to testify against each other, but can testify for or against their spouse, if they so choose to do so.
Reply #5. Jun 11 12, 2:02 PM
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| lesley153
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The article I read did say it was rare to claim marital coercion. I don't suppose the fact that they were married at the time is relevant. The legal points by themselves would be fascinating. This one is going to be interesting and, I bet, dirty. Fur and feathers everywhere.
Reply #6. Jun 11 12, 3:07 PM
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| lesley153
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"Fraud MP Margaret Moran given supervision order"
She "flipped" homes so she could claim for dry rot treatment, she forged receipts for more than £20,000-worth of non-existent purchases, and she got away with £53,000.
If one of us (mortals) made fraudulent claims for £53,000 of state benefit, or stole £53,000 from our employer, I imagine we'd get sent down. Ms Moran has been declared unfit to stand trial for mental health reasons.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-20725315
Reply #7. Dec 14 12, 7:55 PM
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Christinap
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Would it be cynical of me to suggest the mental health issues only started after she'd been caught!
Reply #8. Dec 15 12, 7:47 PM
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| REDVIKING57
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Yes.........It would!
Sadly, you would probably be right, though.
Reply #9. Dec 18 12, 4:49 PM
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| lesley153
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I wouldn't be at all surprised if she wasn't depressed before she was caught. Look on the bright side - an enormous number of criminals have experienced miracle cures after a release on compassionate grounds. Poor people may get released on compassionate grounds too but we don't hear about them much, do we?
Reply #10. Dec 18 12, 5:15 PM
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| lesley153
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Huhne news is confusing. The Daily Mail reported a judge's tweet that the case would be dropped - expenses or speeding? - but the Crown Prosecution Service has denied that the "perversion of justice" case is being dropped.
So I suppose the answer is watch this space for news, then wait a day or three to see if it gets denied.
Reply #11. Dec 18 12, 5:20 PM
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satguru
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A judge tweeting private legal information is a bit like a royal dropping their pants in public but illegal. Certain people who ought to know say if the judge said it then how can it be wrong, which I thought before as well. It will be a terrible shame though, and what will happen to his ex-wife who has been been jointly charged? You need two for a conspiracy minimum, and if he's not one then she'd be off the hook as well. My guess is he'd give something away in return so they had to drop it, but we'll never know unless someone hacks his voicemails, which is no longer allowed...
Reply #12. Dec 18 12, 8:41 PM
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Mommakat
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Just a question - What makes you think this sort of thing is unique to your country? Believe it or not it goes on everywhere and we have a lot of it here in Australia, but more often than not it is swept under the carpet. Comes down to a law for one section and a law for the others.
At the moment we have a delicious little scandal going on here in Western Australia which I am watching to see the outcome. Its the result of when Pollies fall out with each other.
Reply #13. Dec 18 12, 9:12 PM
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| lesley153
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Unique? Nobody said it was unique to us. Just we had a big explosion of cheating, and unearthed more people than usual who had made a Terrible Regrettable Mistake, which would never *sniff* happen *sob* again.
Have you noticed how rich people make silly mistakes and are dusted down and forgiven, while poor people are shameless cheats who deserve to be banged up?
A delicious little scandal sounds just the sort of thing that warrants a delicious little thread!
Reply #14. Jan 15 13, 8:14 AM
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