Ex-MP accused of fraud has case adjourned

Lawyers for the 65-year-old told Westminster Magistrates’ Court they needed more time to make progress with his case.

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said he was “ a little mystified” that another district judge had granted permission for the former Rotherham MP not to appear, but adjourned the case until September 10. He said: “There must be a large amount of paperwork that the solicitors need to go through.”

MacShane is accused of false accounting over alleged fraudulent claims of £12,900 for research and translation services. Yesterday the court was told that he has a pre-booked holiday from late-August until September 4, and that his legal team had asked for the case to be adjourned until after that date.