Published: 11/03/2010 08:05 -
Updated: 11/03/2010 15:33
FORMER Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield denied charges related to his Parliamentary expenses when he appeared in court today (Thursday March 11).
Three Labour MPs – Jim Devine, Elliot Morley and David Chaytor – also appeared in the court today on false accounting charges.
All four were released on unconditional bail and will appear at Southwark Crown Court on March 30. They have all denied the allegations and say they will defend themselves "robustly".
Lord Hanningfield made a statement after the hearing, via his spokesman Mark Spragg, who said the peer had "devoted the last 40 years of his life to public service".
"He is devastated to be in this position. He feels he has been singled out. He does not believe that he has done anything dishonest."
He stepped down as leader of Essex County Council last month after the charges were brought.
He has also been suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party and stood down from the frontbench in the House of Lords, where he served as shadow transport minister.
There are reports today that Labour MP Harry Cohen is also being investigated by police over his expenses.
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