Dozen Tory MPs could face fraud charges on election eve

MORE than a dozen Tory MPs could be charged with expenses fraud just days before the election – throwing the campaign into turmoil at the final hurdle.

Prosecutors have until late May or early June to decide whether 30 Conservative MPs and election agents should face action over allegations they failed to declare spending on battle buses ahead of the 2015 General Election.

Some 14 police forces have passed files to the Crown Prosecution Service, with decisions on whether to proceed due shortly before the June 8 vote.

MPs under suspicion include fisheries minister George Eustice. If found guilty of electoral fraud, the MPs could be sent to jail along with their election agents.

The CPS said the announcement of the snap election would have no impact on the timing of decisions on whether to press charges, meaning MPs could be told they face prosecution just as they prepare to go to the polls.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd denied the early election had been called because of fears a string of results from the last election could be declared void. She told Channel 4 News: ‘Absolutely not.

‘This election has been called for all the reason the PM set out: it’s in our national interests to have a strong government with a strong majority.’

Miss Rudd added: ‘We believe the Conservatives MPs in question have behaved properly. If there are any conclusions to the contrary, we will pay the fines, whatever is appropriate.’ The allegations centre on claims candidates in marginal seats wrongly declared the use of the battle buses and spending on hotels for volunteers as national expenditure rather than local, for which there are tighter spending limits.

Ukip leader Paul Nuttall said the snap election may have been motivated in part to avoid ‘the prospect of a slew of Toryheld by-elections caused by the seeming systematic breach of electoral law’.