The former Labour MP Jim Devine has become the third parliamentarian to be jailed over the expenses scandal after being sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment.
The 56-year-old former trade union convenor made false claims totalling £8,385, "knowing full well just how wrong it was and the effect that false claims were having on the public's belief and confidence in parliament", Mr Justice Saunders, passing sentence at the Old Bailey, said.
I guess
he's lucky there's a war on, eh?
Devine's offences were "less serious" than those committed by the former Labour MP David Chaytor, who received 18 months in January, and were committed over a shorter period of time, Sanders said.
His defence tried his best:
The offences were "entirely out of character" as he was a "man of integrity and honesty", though Millar accepted that might sound like a paradox.
Well, no, 'paradox' wasn't the
first word that came to mind, actually...
Eight thousand quid! That's small beer compared to some political graft. We really do need to up our game, even little Ukraine beats us there.
ReplyDelete