UK MPs set to avoid criminal prosecution
The London police force has today confirmed that only a "handful" of MPs may face possible prosecution over their expenses claims. The fact that the majority of these claims were cleared by the Parliamentary expenses office casts further doubt on the likelihood of successful prosecutions against some of the more borderline alleged abuses.
However, much interest has centred upon alleged mortgage expenses on mortgages which did not exist and similar activities which are yet to be substantiated despite being published by the Daily Telegraph. If deception, or any form of collusion, is found by the police force with regards to these expenses then we may see a small number of prosecutions over the coming months.
The UK public are calling for the blood of a number of MPs who have allegedly abused the expenses system with significant amounts of money involved. As we have seen over the last few weeks, many MPs have decided not to stand at the next general election although this particular move is unlikely to reduce the chance of a criminal prosecution should they be found to have abused the system. Whether such prosecutions will be "kicked into the long grass" and left some time, allowing public anger to die down, remains to be seen.
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