Ex-labour MP faces police investigation into expenses
A FORMER Labour MP has been referred to the police for suspected “claims irregularities” after he paid his friend a £30,000 annual salary for working in his office until the age of 89.
Scotland Yard is “assessing” Geoffrey Robinson’s claims after Brenda Price, his friend, was paid a £30,000-ayear salary for working in his office while he had power of attorney over her, The Mail on Sunday reported.
The police referral comes after The Sunday Telegraph revealed a Labour frontbencher was being investigated by police for allegedly groping someone in a nightclub. The senior MP, who cannot be named, was able to stand for re-election earlier this month despite the ongoing police inquiry.
Mr Robinson told the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) that Ms Price, who died last month aged 90, worked 30 hours per week in his Coventry North West constituency office.
Ms Price had worked for him since 1997 but an Ipsa submission was only made in January 2018 – three months after she gave Mr Robinson power of attorney. The Labour member also charged taxpayers nearly £1,000 per month to rent a room from Ms Price, The Mail on Sunday claimed.
A Met spokesman said: “In December, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority made a referral to the Met in relation to possible expense claims irregularities in relation to an individual. This is currently being assessed.” Ipsa confirmed it made the referral, while the Labour Party noted Mr Robinson was no longer an MP. He did not stand again for his Coventry seat in this month’s election.
The 81-year-old was suspended from the Commons for three weeks in 2001 when he failed to declare an invoice asking press baron Robert Maxwell for £200,000 in 1990. Mr Robinson could not be contacted for comment.