Labour MP ‘made false claims to clear overdraft’

Jim Devine, 57, who held a Commons seat for Livingston in Scotland, is on trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court for falsely claiming almost £9,000 from the public purse.

He is alleged to have submitted five false invoices for cleaning and maintenance work to his London flat, and two false documents to claim for printing leaflets.

However, none of the work was ever carried out and when confronted, Devine tried to blame a secretary who he said was trying to frame him, the court heard.

Jurors were told that Devine, whose main residence was in Bathgate, West Lothian, was almost always overdrawn and that one false claim of £2,400 had been enough to clear it – but only for one day.

Prosecutor Peter Wright QC said the former MP made the claims “with a view to gain for himself, or with an intent to cause loss to another – the public purse”.

The first count alleges that, between July 2008 and May 2009, Devine dishonestly claimed £3,240 for cleaning services from Tom O’Donnell Hygiene and Cleaning Services.

But the court heard that while Tom O’Donnell did provide legitimate cleaning services, he was more familiar to Devine as the landlord of his local pub.

Although a cleaner employed by Mr O’Donnell did carry out cleaning work at the flat, Devine carried on using a blank invoice given to him by the publican to claim for further work that was never carried out.

The second count alleges that between March and April 2009, Devine dishonestly claimed £5,505 for stationery from Armstrong Printing Ltd using false invoices.

Mr Wright said: “The invoices were fiction.

“No such costs had been incurred.

“It was merely a device used by Mr Devine in which to receive a substantial amount of public money to which he was not entitled.”

Jurors heard the rules and regulations on submitting expenses were clearly set out in a tome entitled The Green Book which was readily available to every MP.

Mr Wright said the guide listed the fundamental principles MPs should adhere to when making expenses claims.

He said: “These are based on concepts of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

“We say these are qualities of which Mr Devine demonstrated a woeful inadequacy.”

Devine denies two counts of false accounting.

The case resumes today.