Former MP in probe on expenses awaits fate

The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it has been given enough information by the police to decide on whether to press charges.

Concerns over Mr MacShane’s expenses were first referred to the police in 2010 and last year he was told no action would be taken.

However, the publication of a highly critical report from the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee into Mr MacShane’s affairs led to Shipley MP Philip Davies asking the police to reopen their investigation.

Scotland Yard handed over a file on the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in May.

A CPS spokeswoman said: “We have determined that we are now in receipt of a full file of evidence following the reopening of the Metropolitan Police Service’s investigation in this case, which we are currently considering for a potential charging decision.”

Mr MacShane stood down as MP for Rotherham in November after the Standards and Privileges Committee recommended he should be suspended from the Commons for 12 months.

Its report found that Mr MacShane submitted 19 false invoices over the course of four financial years which were “plainly intended to deceive the Parliamentary expenses authorities”.

The committee found that around £7,500 may have been claimed outside the rules. Mr MacShane repaid £12,900.

The report included letters from the former Labour Minister to the standards commissioner not previously been seen by police.

Mr MacShane said he had buried himself in his work after his daughter died in a skydiving accident, he had gone through a divorce and the death of television presenter Carol Barnes, the mother of his eldest daughter, and taken a “shortcut” with his expenses.

“I did something so foolish and wrong I am still unable fully to explain to myself my stupidity” he said.