MPs will face criminal charges on expenses, says angel’ Cable

ECONOMICS guru Vince Cable believes a handful of MPs could face criminal charges over the expenses scandal, he told an audience in London’s East End. The Lib Dem MP said the row had cost the careers of many able and good politicians

By Malcolm Starbrook

ECONOMICS guru Vince Cable believes a handful of MPs could face criminal charges over the expenses scandal, he told an audience in London’s East End last night.

The Twickenham Lib Dem MP, named in press reports as an angel’ because of his clean reputation over expenses, said the row had cost the careers of many able and good MPs.

“A number of very good people have gone as a result,” he said. “I believe three or four MPs could still face fraud accusations over their expense claims.”

Their mistakes had been created by ignorance of a system that was poorly understood and loosely administered, he insisted. But the public had a right to expect exemplary standards’ from their politicians.

The system of flipping’ the designation of their Westminster and constituency addresses had to be investigated and improved.

Mr Cable was speaking at a Lib Dem open meeting at Bethnal Green’s Oxford House community centre, packed by more than 80 people.

The MP, described by some newspapers as an angel’ because of his clean record on expenses, told them: “When I look at some of my angelic’ colleagues on the same list, I cannot help but feel that heaven has dropped its standards for entrance.”