Tuesday 31 May 2011

Lord Taylor jailed for 12 months

The disgraced former Conservative peer Lord Taylor of Warwick has been jailed for 12 months over false parliamentary expense claims.
Taylor falsely filed for travel and overnight subsistence to claim more than £11,000 from the taxpayer, Southwark crown court, in London, heard.
The 58-year-old told the House of Lords members' expenses office that his main residence was a house in Oxford, when in fact he lived in west London.
The peer never stayed at, and only twice visited, the Oxford property, which was owned by his half-nephew's partner. He was therefore not entitled to claim money for travelling from Oxford to London and staying overnight in the capital.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Saunders said Taylor had lied to journalists investigating his expenses and lied while giving evidence to the jury on oath during his trial.
He said: "The expenses scheme in the House of Lords was based on trust. Peers certified that their claims were accurate. They were not required to provide proof. It was considered that people who achieved a peerage could be relied on to be honest.
"Making false claims involved a breach of a high degree of trust. The expenses scandal has affected the standing not just of the House of Commons but also the House of Lords."
The disgraced former Conservative peer Lord Taylor of Warwick has been jailed for 12 months over false parliamentary expense claims.
Taylor falsely filed for travel and overnight subsistence to claim more than £11,000 from the taxpayer, Southwark crown court, in London, heard.
The 58-year-old told the House of Lords members' expenses office that his main residence was a house in Oxford, when in fact he lived in west London.
The peer never stayed at, and only twice visited, the Oxford property, which was owned by his half-nephew's partner. He was therefore not entitled to claim money for travelling from Oxford to London and staying overnight in the capital.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Saunders said Taylor had lied to journalists investigating his expenses and lied while giving evidence to the jury on oath during his trial.
He said: "The expenses scheme in the House of Lords was based on trust. Peers certified that their claims were accurate. They were not required to provide proof. It was considered that people who achieved a peerage could be relied on to be honest.
"Making false claims involved a breach of a high degree of trust. The expenses scandal has affected the standing not just of the House of Commons but also the House of Lords."
taken from http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/31/mps-expenses-lord-taylor-jailed

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