Police pass new expenses abuse file to CPS

Scotland Yard passed a new file of evidence against a Parliamentarian suspected of abusing expenses to prosecutors today.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed the dossier was handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

He said: "One further file of evidence relating to Parliamentary expenses was delivered to the Crown Prosecution Service this afternoon."

The file was the seventh to be completed and sent to prosecutors by detectives at the Metropolitan Police's specialist crime wing.

Police and prosecutors declined to confirm the identity of the politician who is the subject of the file.

Three Labour MPs and a Conservative peer appeared in court nine days ago accused of theft by false accounting.

MPs David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine, along with Lord Hanningfield, insisted their case should be dealt with by Parliament's authorities instead.

There was outrage last week when Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said Labour peer Baroness Uddin would not be prosecuted.

He said the wording of guidelines issued by the House authorities had presented prosecutors with a "very real difficulty" in bringing a case.

Prosecutors said no charges would be brought against a sixth politician, former Labour chairman Lord Clarke of Hampstead, because of a lack of evidence.

It has been claimed that Leyton and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen is under police scrutiny after claiming around £70,000 for a second home while renting out his main one.

The publication of detailed claims for expenses and allowances by the Daily Telegraph newspaper provoked an extraordinary public scandal.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a "small number" of cases remain under consideration by investigators.

He said: "The Metropolitan Police Service has this afternoon delivered one further file of evidence relating to parliamentary expenses to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

"This file will now be subject to CPS consideration on whether there should be any charges.

"This brings the total number of files handed to the CPS to seven, relating to seven people.

"Four of these files have resulted in charges. The CPS decided there would be no charges brought in relation to two of these files.

"A small number of cases remain subject to consideration by the joint Met and CPS assessment panel or are subject to continuing investigation."

A CPS spokeswoman confirmed receipt of the file and declined to comment further.