Lawyers last night said that the claims could constitute a criminal offence under the 2006 Fraud Act and the 1968 Theft Act.
At the time, Mr Morley was claiming £800 a month for mortgage interest on a property in Scunthorpe. However, the mortgage had been repaid by March 1 2006, according to official Land Registry documents.
Last night, Mr Morley apologised and said that he had informed the Chief Whip and the parliamentary fees office. He said he had repaid some money but refused to disclose how much. In a statement issued to The Daily Telegraph, he said:
“I do not believe any offence has been committed. I have reported this to the finance department and chief whip.
“I have made a mistake, I apologise for that and I take full responsibility. My priority was to repay and if I suffer financially as a result of that, I have only myself to blame.”
“I have made a mistake, I apologise for that and I take full responsibility. My priority was to repay and if I suffer financially as a result of that, I have only myself to blame.”
It can also be disclosed that, in November 2007, Mr Morley “flipped” his designated second home from the Scunthorpe house to his London property - and the dubious mortgage claims were never uncovered.
Mr Morley, a former government whip and privy councillor, was renting out the London property, which was designated as his “main residence”, to another Labour MP.
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2 people have spoken:
Sorry, Elliot, I think an offence has been committed and so will everyone else. Even Mr Plod might be persuaded.
Aye, time to have a few police officers knock his door or 2nd taxpayer funded door an ask him a few questions.
Helping police as the old statement go's.
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