U.K. legislators charged in expenses scandal

Three British members of the House of Commons and one member of the House of Lords will face criminal charges in connection with an expenses scandal that has rocked that country's political system.

Keir Starmer, Britain's director of public prosecution, said Friday that charges of false accounting have been brought against the four,who include Labour Party members of the Commons Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine, and a Conservative Party member of the House of Lords, Paul White, who is known as Lord Hanningfield.

The four men have denied the charges. They are to appear in London's City of Westminster court on March 11.

The expenses scandal erupted last year, with British parliamentarians having to pay back money claimed for expenses such as housecleaning, rent, and even having the moat cleaned around their home. Taxpayer money was also found to have been used for second homes, horse manure, porn movies and a mole catcher.

The scandal led nine members of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's cabinet to quit. Two members of the House of Commons have been thrown out and about 150 won't run again in this year's national election.

A report out on Feb. 4 ordered 392 present and past British legislators to repay about 1.12 million pounds ($1.89 million Can).

Banned from running for re-election

"All criminal allegations have got to be investigated. It's a matter now for the courts. We have got to get rid of that old politics, it cannot be part of the new system," Brown said Friday ahead of a cabinet meeting.

The Labour Party has suspended Morley, Chaytor and Devine, banning them from running for re-election.

White was suspended by the Conservative Party on Friday, and he quit his post as opposition spokesman on transportation issues.

"I totally refute the charges and will vigorously defend myself against them," White said.

Starmer said the case against Anthony Clarke, a Labour member of the House of Lords, has been dropped, while a sixth case is still continuing.