Ex-Labour minister Denis MacShane to be suspended from the Commons for ONE YEAR after claiming expenses on 19 fake invoices

Afrik Update

By Matt Chorley,Mailonline

                      Former Europe Minister Denis MacShane is to be suspended from the Commons for 12 months

Former Europe Minister Denis MacShane is to be suspended from the Commons for a year for submitting 19 false invoices to claim parliamentary expenses.

He also claimed thousands of pounds for computers and laptops, including one which he allowed an intern to keep after they stopped working for him.

The Committee on Standards and Privileges said today that it was recommending the punishment after finding Mr MacShane submitted 19 false invoices worth £12,900 ‘plainly intended to deceive’ Parliament's expenses authority.

The committee said: 'This is so far from what would be acceptable in any walk of life that we recommend that Mr MacShane be suspended from the service of the House for twelve months.’

Mr Macshane said was 'shocked and saddened' and was now considering his position.

The Labour party said his ‘career as a Labour MP is effectively over’.

Mr MacShane's punishment reflected that his actions were 'so far from what would be acceptable in any walk of life, the committee said.

The Committee condemned Mr MacShane for submitting false invoices to claim public money which he used to travel around Europe.

The cross-party body accused the MP of 'real mischief' because it 'bypassed the checks and controls the House had instituted in a way which enabled Mr MacShane to spend public money as he thought fit. 

'For example, one matter which we consider to be of the utmost gravity is Mr MacShane’s use of public money to support European travel.'

Between 27 January 2005 and 11 January 2008 Mr MacShane submitted 19 invoices from a body called the European Policy Institute (EPI) for work including 'research and translation work as agreed' and 'research and translation consultancy'.

Mr MacShane claimed the EPI had been set up by a group of pro-European policy writers, journalists and activists in the 1990s, and produced reports, published books and organised conferences. 

But the committee found there was 'no formal structure', names given on letterheads for General
Manager, an Acting Director and four associate Directors were old friends from the early 1990s and had no office and nor had there ever been any salaried staff.

The bank account was controlled by Mr MacShane himself.

In a report published today, it said: 'He has expressed his regret, and repaid the money wrongly claimed.

'But this does not excuse his behaviour in knowingly submitting 19 false invoices over a period of four financial years which were plainly intended to deceive the Parliamentary expenses authorities.

'This is so far from what would be acceptable in any walk of life that we recommend that Mr MacShane be suspended from the service of the House for 12 months.

'This would mean he lost his salary and pension contributions for this period.'

Mr MacShane was also loaned three laptops and three PCs free of charge by the Parliamentary ICT service.

But he also made claims eight further computers, including claiming for one twice in error.

The committee found that at least one laptop paid for by the taxpayer was given to an intern when they stopped working for Mr MacShane.

Mr MacShane claimed for eight computers on parliamentary expenses, and gave one to an intern when they stopped working for him

The committee said: 'We do not believe that any reasonable MP would have considered it proper to have allowed interns to take laptops provided by the public purse away with them at the end of their internship.'

A party spokesman added:  'These are very serious findings concerning Denis MacShane and we accept his statement this morning that his career as a Labour MP is effectively over.

'In the light of the report's recommendations to the House the Labour Party has suspended Denis MacShane with immediate effect, pending a full NEC enquiry.

'We will be talking to Denis MacShane about his future and the best course of action for him and for his constituency.'

In a statement, Mr MacShane said: 'I remain committed to work for progressive values, for Britain playing a full part in Europe, and for combating anti-semitism even though I can no longer undertake this work as a Labour MP.

'I am consulting family and friends as I consider my position and study the full implications of the report. I am obviously desperately sorry for any embarrassment I have caused my beloved Labour Party and its leader Ed Miliband whom I greatly admire.'