Labour MP Margaret Moran cheated the taxpayer out of more than £53,000 on her Parliamentary expenses, a court heard today.
The Luton South MP allegedly falsely claimed for repairs and upkeep of her homes including £22,000 for dry rot and £14,800 for a replacement boiler, central heating and a conservatory.
She “flipped” her designated main and second homes between properties in her Luton constituency, a Westminster flat and another house in Southampton, the court heard.
However, since the Commons expenses scandal broke, Moran’s health has deteriorated.
In April, Mr Justice Saunders ruled that she was unfit to stand trial. A jury at Southwark crown court was sworn in today not to decide whether she is guilty or not but whether “she did the alleged acts complained of”.
In all she faces 15 charges of false accounting and six counts of using a false instrument by submitting phoney invoices. Moran, 57, was not in court.
The judge told the jury the “trial of issue” was “rather unusual procedure”. The case continues.
